Jason Karolak maps a layer of carborundum under Steamboat’s beautiful, early evening light.
We made the most of Summer 2013 at Oehme Graphics with our second artist project this year. Artist Jason Karolak escaped from Brooklyn’s August humidity to Steamboat and produced a diverse body of 21 edition prints. Jason routinely creates ink drawings, fairly small and very large oil paintings. He applied the same approach in the printmaking studio. Collaboratively, Master Printer Susan Hover Oehme and Jason edited down dozens of vellum drawings to a series of 12 small black and white, solar plate etchings which will be available as a suite entitled Alembic, with a short text by Emerson. These 12 3/4″ x 11 1/2″ prints cost $300 each or $3,200 as a box set. The bright color and thick texture of Jason’s small paintings translate beautifully into 20 1/2″ x 18″ carborundum aquatint prints. Costing $1,100 each, PR-1301 and PR-1302, are printed with a total of 17 plates and 20 colors. Jason’s large paintings proved to be a puzzle. They tested Susan’s power and finesse in the acid room as she successfully step etched four, 30 second intervals and gracefully steel faced two very heavy 27 3/4″ x 23″aquatint plates. Meanwhile Jason proved his patience as he used carborundum to map out the colorful positive shape to fit with the aquatint plate. Jason and Sue’s determination to create simple and elegant value changes in these color prints and black and white variations is evident in their beauty ($2500 and $1800, respectively). Wrapping up the project are two playful and colorful 14 3/4″ x 13 1/2″ solar prints for $800 and a simple black and white solar plate addition to our now bi-annual Stairway to Heaven group portfolio.
Jason had dozens of ideas for his vellum sketches, but chose 12 for the solar plate portfolio set, Alembic.
These carborundum plates are inked heavily and carefully to preserve Jason’s solid marks.
Jason’s color palette for his small oil paintings is bright and pure. When printing with so many colors and plates, as we did for his carborundums, there is a threat of “muddying” the print. We proofed a variety of plate orders to test which would be the most true to his sensibility while maintaining the vibrancy of each individual color.
We spent long days and evening in the studio, making the most of Jason’s project. Enthusiastically, Jason also took advantage of his beautiful surroundings with morning hikes (he and Hollis and Christie almost walked over a rattlesnake on Mad Creek Trail!!) and an adventure to the Old Town Pub’s roof for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. (thanks to Lizzy Larock!!)
Master Printer Susan Oehme and Jason Karolak discuss how Jason will trace his image onto the aquatinted copper plate.
Master Printer Susan and our new intern Hollis proof PR-1320. This orange layer is the fourth carborundum layer. Next, we use the steel-faced copper plate to fill in the negative space with a dense black.
Our new, small press was extremely useful during Jason’s project. As Susan uses the big press, printer Christie Stepan poofs four solar plates to make the colorful PR-1315- A playful print that brings a smile to everyone’s face.
Jason discussed his project with art lovers from Steamboat
Thank you to everyone that came to Oehme Graphics to celebrate the end of Jason Karolak’s project. Jason was proud to present his prints to the Steamboat community and Steamboat Arts Council members. We look forward to doing more artist talks during our Oehme Graphics cocktail parties in the future!
To see all of Jason Karolak’s prints click here.
Next up: Katherine Bradford from New York City in mid-October.