Sweet Stuff at Hemphill

A must-see screenprinted master work is now on view at Hemphill Fine Arts in downtown D.C. Conceived by art heavyweight William Christenberry and printed by Corcoran's masterprinter Dennis O'Neill, the print demonstrates the versatility of our medium. Alabama Wall is formed by a grid of 32 mini-prints, each a unique interpretation of Christenberry's trademark "Tops" snuff advertisements. O'Neill's genius lies in his processes. Experimentation within each image, along with the dustings of coffee and micro-beads on to wet ink, propels the print to magnificent.

        

Dennis O'Neill

Dennis lives, breathes and talks screenprinting: "The screenprint has long been associated with its commercial cousin for making imagery that is bold and graphic, flat and hard edged. When screenprinting began to switch from solvent based to water-based technology over two decades its very nature began to change and expand as well.The screenprint today is a chameleon, borrowing freely from sculpture, painting and digital imagery, to name just a few of its influences. It has a capacity to adapt and alter as well as replicate everything it sees and touches."

Alabama Wall, detail. Granular additions evoke the impression of rust.

See the print, discover the secrets!

_______________________

William Christenberry
Assembled Memory
Hemphill Fine Arts
September 8 – October 27, 2012Hemphill Fine Arts
1515 14th Street
Washington, DC

Dennis O'Neill
presents his unique screenprint processes at the
Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair
Sunday, Nov. 18th, 2:00 - 2:45 pm
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
8230 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD

Another Akman Achievement

The finished print.

Screenprint regular and art gym member Allan Akman has completed another one of his signature labor intensive prints; D.C. Blossoms. Allan keeps close tabs on his process, but is reluctant to state the number of colors, "because I re-printed some plates to change colors for shadows .... I didn't count reprints as additional colors in the plate counts."

Allan at work in the studio.

Hair splitting aside, word has it the count was somewhere between 30 and 38, including at least one split fountain, creating the gorgeous pastel sky gradation. Congratulations, Allan, and we look forward to the next masterpiece.