Last October, I took an online RISO Basics workshop with Outlet PDX .
This workshop focused on the art of Risograph printing. It was both educational and inspiring! Risograph printers have been used for decades and are having a resurgence among artists and designers. The RISO printer offers creative freedom through the printing process. It is also very environmentally friendly. The inks are soy based, sustainable, and biodegradable. I've always gravitated towards RISO cards and prints by other artists. The minimal color palettes and bold inks always get me!
Pictured below- my second RISO print - an illustration of our first home for our family Christmas card. I put the original in the scanning bed - made what is called a master and then was able to print multiple copies using red ink. The process is similar to screen printing & photocopying combined. You can also adjust the amount of ink that is used for more or less transparency.
My first experiments with RISO, I utilized the printer at The Union For Contemporary Art Co-Op studios. After a few trips to their printmaking studio, I was hooked! I feel in love with the immediacy of this process. Using the Union's printer was a great way for me to see if I wanted to invest in my own machine. Because these machines are quite expensive, I wanted to really make sure I felt comfortable using the printer before I spent big bucks.
The Riso print below is an old photo of my Grandma - I collaged her name with magazine clippings on a printed out photo from an inkjet printer, added some puzzle pieces and books (things she loved) and made a RISO print to pass out to family at the end of her funeral in October. This fall was especially difficult as I lost both my grandfather (my father's father) and (my mother's mother) within one month of each other. Making art has always been a way that helps me cope with grief.
After dragging Shawn and Leo to the studio a couple times, I felt that having my own printer would give me the ability to create after the kids go to bed.
Finding one, however, was a bit of a challenge. It took months of searching and back-and-forth with dealers to track down something within my budget. Eventually, I found a refurbished machine through Hallagans in Chicago. Last week, she finally arrived!
My new toy was delivered on a semi truck and dropped off on a pallet in our garage. Not pictured, my husband and I lifting the 200 lb printer together and throwing my back out! Totally worth it though.
I named my machine Stevie—a name we had picked out if we ever had a girl—and got her running by printing a few thank-you cards and flyers.
My second project on my new RISO is one I'm very excited to share! My 2027 calendar. I’ve been illustrating a series of Nebraska native flowers and decided to bring them to life using a two-color RISO process. After scanning my drawings I added a grey layer in Photoshop which would be printed in orange.
This photo above shows the printing drum. The drums need to be changed for each color you print. Some RISO printers hold two color drums at a time.
Next, I sent the paper through the printer a second time to add the linework in a contrasting black.
I’m excited to continue experimenting with different color combinations and to explore what the future of this process might look like with my illustrations.
I love the slightly offset, imperfect quality of RISO printing, and the way those quirks make each piece feel unique. I hope you enjoyed reading about the process and a sneak peak at next year's calendar, coming soon!
