My First Gocco Night

On a rainy Friday night, I decided to try my hand at my gocco and break it in for the first time. I was a little scared that I would mess up my first screen (because they cost $20.00 for the screen and bulbs that you can only use once basically).

Last weekend, I made two sketches of some interesting designs for my first print (see pervious entry) and hopefully make cards from. I prepared earlier in the week making photocopies in various sizes to see how large or small I wanted my design to be. 

I also went to Kinkos, where I grabbed a large stack of good quality card stock and had a staff member use the electronic cutter to cut the paper to the size I wanted (only about $1.40 per cut though the whole stack). It saved me time and cost me less than $10.00 for about 200 sheets of smaller paper cut perfectly (and only took 3 minutes after getting their attention). 

All I really did before beginning  tonight was look at the tutorials and step-by-step pictures that I had listed in my previous blogs about gocco. It was very easy and self explanatory for the most part. 

Here are some photos below from tonight!

This is just starting off with my photo copy on the gray sticky pad. 

Inking the screen! I was worried that I did something wrong because the screen looked like it had squares on it afterwards.

Did I put too much on the screen???

Ready to print my first one...

Press down!

Voila! My first print!!!!!

It was very easy to keep printing. I even made a few ACEOs! 

Look in my shop for my prints and a few limited edition ACEOs this weekend! 

Sketch Ideas for my First Gocco!

Hello again everyone!!! Sorry there has been a delay in my posts. As the school year comes to a close, my schedule keeps getting busier and busier!

This week was filled with a lot of things, but I did find some time to start sketching ideas for my first gocco. I have had my gocco for about three weeks now and have not done much with it. The screens and bulbs are so expensive, that I wanted to make sure I had some good ideas first.

 

I want to make some greeting cards first! The first two  ideas I have are below! The one with lots of designs is a little too crowded in one corner I think, but I can white out that part once I make the photocopy for the gocco. 

What do you think? Too crowded or some good diversity and asymmetry?

These designs have been inspired by Vera Bradley and a Crate and Barrel Catalogue for a starting point. I had fun trying to come up with different paisley patterns on the one below. No two paisleys are the same!

Which one do you like better? I am thinking about doing some black and white, a turquoise on brown paper, and  pink on brown paper. I love those color combinations.

I am also on the hunt for print plush!! Link me some from your shop or Flickr if you make them. I am going to do a feature soon on print plush. I really want to make some!

Please vote for your favorite design above!