My work, overall, is in many ways my personal recreation of nostalgic moments- or things that should have been nostalgic. I've written about my collection of oranges (aptly named The Grove). Similarly, my Spooky Season (Szn for the millennials) or Halloween collection is my own revisiting of Halloween. My 2023 collection featured designs that felt like the vintage (gosh I feel OLD) decorations I remember from my childhood. This year's collection takes those just a little bit further.
Pumpkin Man remains my one true favorite. I made the decision this year to utilize screen printing to help me take my drawings from paper (okay so iPad) to pottery. This process allowed me to make more pieces with less wear and tear on my body. Free handing Pumpkin Man and the Haunted House last year resulted in some pretty painful hand cramps I'd like to avoid again!
Just like with all of my collections, I started by doodling and playing with ideas. Typically, I'd go right to pottery. This time, I finalized the drawings and sent them off to Staples to be printed on transparency paper. I used these and the good ol' Florida sun to expose pre-treated sheets from Small Dog Prints. Truly, I'm never going back to making my own chemical emulsion and treating sheets myself. It took a bit to truly figure out how long to expose with the sun, but once I got it, I had three screens that could be used over and over!
I took my screens, printed them onto gelli plates, and then simply was able to paint in the colors. This process allowed me to re-create my favorite critters, without losing the individuality that I love within my work. (Look- if you want perfect pieces, I'm not your artist- and that's okay!)
Ultimately, what I love about this collection is how nostalgic it feels. After a lot of challenges, I'm so proud of the batch I landed with, and can't wait for everyone to see them!
This collection launches August 8, 2024.
