This week I had the opportunity to take a Risograph workshop in Portland, Oregon, and it was easily one of the highlights of my Summer break! The workshop was hosted at Outlet PDX, a studio & shop where owners Leland Vaughan and Kate Bingaman-Burt teach classes on Risograph printing, illustration, and zine making. In addition to their classes they host events in this community art space. The studio also offers Risograph printing services, so artists can print in person or remotely by requesting a quote.
I've been following Outlet PDX for many years so walking into the studio felt a bit like stepping into a candy store! Their library of inks and papers were all organized in ROYGBIV fashion (the art teacher in me loved that). I spent time browsing the collection of prints for sale and couldn't resist bringing a few home for inspiration. I love seeing how different illustrators approach the same medium—how they layer inks, use color in unexpected ways, and choose papers that completely change the feel of a print. Even the bag that held my new treasures was Risograph printed! You could tell that Kate & Leland have poured their hearts into this space to make it feel so special.
During the workshop, illustrator and educator Leland Vaughn guided us through the process of creating digital illustrations for Risograph printing. The class was incredibly approachable, with visuals that broke down each step in a way that made even the more technical parts feel easy to understand. We learned how to prepare our files in Procreate, choose a limited color palette, and think intentionally about how each ink layer would interact with the next. Leland shared examples from their own work, which made it so much easier to visualize how overlapping inks create entirely new colors. I also picked up some great tips on blending modes and organizing files by color—little things that will make a big difference the next time I create a print.
The thoughtful zine & color swatch created by Outlet were super helpful for visualizing how colors interact with one another when layered in print.
Some ink drums laid out on the table. It was helpful to see a little bit of Leland's process behind the scenes.
For my project, I decided to illustrate the Joslyn Art Museum using a sketch I had drawn earlier that day. Since we were working digitally, I scanned my sketch and imported it into Procreate. I've tried using Procreate before, but I'll admit I felt a little overwhelmed and eventually gave up on it. This workshop completely changed that. Leland patiently walked us through their process step by step, and suddenly everything started to click. It was also fun to see everyone's different workflows. The graphic designer sitting next to me worked in Photoshop, while others used Procreate. I really appreciated that the workshop welcomed artists wherever they were in their creative journey.
My sketch from breakfast.
Once my illustration was in Procreate, I began painting each color in my illustration in a separate layer. I started with yellow, added fluorescent pink, and finished with blue. This created some secondary colors where my colors overlapped. Watching those layers overlap to create new colors was probably my favorite part of the process. I was also inspired by one of Leland's prints to add a stamp-like border around my illustration, which gave it a finished, vintage feel.
We each printed an edition of 20, and the best part of the day was trading prints with everyone at the end of class. I left with a stack of artwork created by artists I had just met, along with the prints I had picked up from the studio earlier that day. There's something really special about leaving a workshop not only with new skills, but with artwork and connections that remind you of the experience.
I'm leaving Portland feeling energized and inspired. The demands of motherhood sometimes take their toll, so I'm incredibly grateful I carved out time this summer for my own learning and creativity. If you ever find yourself in Portland and are even the slightest bit curious about Risograph printing, I can't recommend Outlet PDX enough!
If you'd like to bring home a piece from this workshop, I have a limited number of my Joslyn Risograph prints available in my shop. You can purchase one by clicking the link here! I hope you enjoy!