Though our primary focus is the creation of fine art prints, Tugboat Printshop is open & excited to take on occasional commission work in print or illustration. We operate on a project to project basis, depending upon the time of year, intensity of the commission, and our availablility. If you are interested in hiring Tugboat for custom work, please feel free to call 412-621-0663 or E-MAIL US for a quote on your project.
Please bear in mind that due to the labor intensive nature of making custom woodcuts, quick turnaround is rarely possible. We require at least a 6 months notice for custom printed multiples. Tugboat specializes in original fine-art woodcuts and our prices are reflective of the time and effort that it takes to design, draw, cut, and produce our individual, unique, fine art products.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: AMERICAN EXPRESS ICONIC POP DECAL, 2010.
TUGBOAT PRINTSHOP worked with SIEGEL + GALE, one of the world's premier branding companies, to create this illustration of Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle for AMERICAN EXPRESS. Original drawning, digitally colored.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: SOCIETY FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT WOODCUT EXHIBITION POSTER, 2010.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: THE DECEMBERISTS WOODBLOCK POSTER, 2011.
Tugboat Printshop was commissioned by THE DECEMBERISTS to make a 3 block woodcut show poster for their 2011 Omaha performance. The finished poster, 18" x 24", is shown above, the blocks we used to create it, below!
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EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: THE DECEMBERISTS WOODBLOCK POSTER, 2011.
Tugboat Printshop was commissioned by THE DECEMBERISTS band to make a 4 block woodcut show poster for their 2011 Columbia, MD performance. (ABOVE) The finished 18" x 12" woodblock poster. (BELOW) In-progress shots of poster blocks being carved. 4 wood blocks were hand-drawn, hand-carved & hand-printed to make the final show poster.
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EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: BEARD WOODBLOCK FOR BEARDED STUDIOS, 2010.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: FOLEY/PACE WOODCUT WEDDING INVITATION, 2010.
(ABOVE, LEFT) Invitation folded into an envelope (a sticker seals). (ABOVE, RIGHT) Back side of envelope.
Printed from custom drawn & carved woodblocks in golden yellow ink.
(ABOVE) Illustrated text inside custom woodcut wedding invitation. Printed with gold ink on white paper. On the far right is the back of the perforated RSVP postcard (front of card is bride & groom illustration).
OUR DESIGN PROCESS STEP-BY-STEP:
DESIGN: Tugboat Printshop works with you directly to develop an original image and idea that fits your needs. We will provide up to three loose sketches--of those, one is chosen to develop as the key block drawing.
KEY BLOCK DRAWING + CUTTING: The final drawing for the key block is made directly on a block of birch plywood. The drawing is then carved out with hand-held knives to preserve the detail of the inked in lines.
TRANSFER OF BLOCKS FOR COLOR: If multiple colors are part of the design scheme, multiple woodblocks are carved for each of the colors (though sometimes it will work to have two colors on the same block). The key block image is transferred to same sized blocks and redrawn with the new underlying color information.
PRINTING: Finished blocks are inked by hand & printed through our Conrad etching press. Each layer requires a short drying time.
CUTTING + FOLDING: Depending on the commission, additional fees for cutting & folding might be required.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: KUBIS/DANYO WOODCUT WEDDING INVITATION, 2008
Tugboat Printshop received a MERIT AWARD from HOW MAGAZINE ANNUAL SELF PROMOTION ISSUE, 2008 for this invite!
(ABOVE) A 4 block woodcut wedding invitation, unfolded. Both the front & back of the fawn-colored paper were printed. The paper was cut to fold into a easy-to-mail 6" x 8" printed envelope. Perforations for an R.S.V.P. card allow easy removal for its return as a postcard.
EXAMPLES OF OUR COMMISSION WORK: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA ALUMNI PRINT, 2004.
Edition of 100 color woodblock prints commissioned from Paul by the ALUMNI HOUSE of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA, Vermillion, 2004.
ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLES: A FAIR IN THE PARK POSTER 2008 + 2009
(BELOW) Original drawing, digitally colored for the Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh's "A FAIR IN THE PARK" annual outdoor fair. The finished posters & postcards were manufactured by a commercial printer.
ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLES: A FAIR IN THE PARK POSTER 2010
(BELOW) Original drawing, digitally colored for the Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh's "A FAIR IN THE PARK" annual outdoor fair. The finished posters & postcards were manufactured by a commercial printer.
ILLUSTRATION EXAMPLES: ETSY.COM ARTIST OF THE MONTH PUBLICITY PACK ILLUSTRATIONS
(ABOVE) Hand-drawn Promotional Poster design for Etsy.com (above).
© 2006-2012 Tugboat Printshop | All visual media © Tugboat Printshop. All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY
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