As screen printers, we like to decorate things. It’s in our blood, and blank walls are like blank t-shirts. It’s an open opportunity to showcase our love of art, to decorate the bland. We recently found ourselves with a blank wall at Ryonet Headquarters in Vancouver, WA, after reorganizing our print space. It was the perfect opportunity to reach out to the screen printing community to showcase your art on our wall, so we put the ask out there and you all delivered, big time!
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN SCREEN PRINTING
What started as an empty space at Ryonet Headquarters has blossomed into a dynamic exhibit of creativity and skill from our screen printing family. The overwhelming response to our call for artwork highlights the robust talent and unity within our community. Each submission - ink on t-shirts, posters, stickers, and patches - arrived as a narrative, a tangible expression of someone’s passion and ingenuity in screen printing. We were especially touched by the heartfelt letters from shop owners and artists, sending their gratitude for highlighting their art, detailing their creative processes, and sharing stories behind their artwork.
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DIVERSITY IN DESIGN
As we began to receive your submissions, we were struck by the diversity of designs. From intricate illustrations to bold typographic pieces, the variety of styles was astounding. This eclectic mix underlines the unique essence of the screen printing community: the freedom to create without boundaries, to blend traditional techniques with innovative concepts. Tyler Gehrke’s all-over print submission was a prime example. As his shirt made its rounds in our office, it was met with awe and curiosity - “Whoa, this is so rad” and “How did he do this so well, this isn't easy?!” Tyler generously shared his intricate process, making his print not just an art piece for the wall, but a source of inspiration and learning for us all.
Our wall is quickly becoming a visual dialogue between various artists and techniques, each telling a different story. From @black_dog_printing's stickers and slightly disturbing t-shirts (we're not judging, Black Dog, your creativity gets us every time!) to the delightful artistry from Skyline Fever, to @zachmerrill_’s retro inspired action tees, and the massive creative mind of @grimcartoons, the wall is a reminder that in screen printing, the only limit is our imagination. Whether it's experimenting with new inks, embracing complex designs, or combining unconventional materials, the possibilities are endless and we’re so stoked you shared your art with us!
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BUILDING A COMMUNITY GALLERY
We envision this wall as an evolving gallery of screen printed art. Let's fill this space together with the best prints from around the globe. This is a collaborative project, a way to connect with fellow screen printers and to have your work seen and appreciated by a wider audience and we invite you to be a part of this ongoing project! Whether you're a seasoned printer or just starting out, your work has a place on our wall. Let’s continue to build this space for your screen prints, celebrating our shared passion for this art form. Send us your creations and become a permanent part of our display and in return, you'll receive a fun gift pack from us at Ryonet!
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GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS
To keep the process smooth and the wall diverse, there aren’t many rules for submissions but we do have a couple requests…
- Original designs are preferred, let your creativity shine!
- Keep the letters coming! Include a bit about yourself and your print. We love to know the story and process behind your art.
- Please keep it PG13. We sometimes have kiddos and people from all walks of life visit our shop and we’re no fan of exclusivity.
- Share your social media handles so we can tag you in posts we share.
- Include your shirt size and return address to receive a gift from us!
- Make sure it's packed well so as to not get damaged in transit.
SHIPPING INFO
We won’t mention names but someone from our team (*cough *cough Jamie) posted the wrong shipping address on our recent social media Art Ask post, so we had quite the adventure tracking down @fingersduke artwork across town! Who knew 56th St would be so far from 57th?! Shout out to the suburban home who opened the artwork and called us to pick it up even though they loved it and wanted to keep it! So here’s the real deets this time…
Ryonet Corp
℅ Marketing Dept
12303 NE 56th St
Vancouver, WA 98682
As we step back and look at this ever-growing gallery, we're reminded why we love screen printing. It’s not just about the final product; it’s about the process, the community, and the endless possibilities of creation. The wall at Ryonet Headquarters is a vibrant testament to the screen printing community's spirit, talent, and passion so let’s keep this growing together!
Tyler Gehrke, @fingersduke @zachmerrill_ @normal_sundays @daybreak_enterprises_ @crescentmoonprinting @grimcartoons @black_dog_printing @skylinefever