Hello, my name is Taiko Chandler. I am an artist living and working in Denver, Colorado. I work primarily in printmaking, and more recently in sculpture and installations.
You are looking at my Monoprint, titled “On and On #117.”
The ‘On and On’ series is an ongoing project that I have been working on since 2018 with master printer Sue Oehme, from at Oehme Graphics in Steamboat Springs, CO. It is an exploratory project for me because I have been able to see the prints evolve, over several years. Each print is unique, and relies heavily on instinct and imagination. As such, over the five years we have been working on this series, the nature of the prints (the colors, tone, details, and so on) is dynamic, with each year’s style reflecting that moment in time.
I think a notable characteristic of the ‘On and On’ series is the underlying plate, which I create using Sintra board, shapes made from contact paper and sandpaper, adding dry point method using sewing wheel and other sharp tool. I also use a large number of hand-cut stencils made from acetate sheets. For me, these unconventional materials and tools help me push the boundaries of what is creatively possible as an artist.
Another unique element of the ‘On and On’ series is how the print process is so intense and unpredictable. Because we run the paper and the 2 plates side by side through the etching press two or occasionally three times, combining plates and rapidly placing stencils before the dampened paper dries, the result is almost always intricate and surprising. I think this serendipity creates artistic tension, but is endlessly fascinating given the seemingly never-ending set of possibilities.
Thank you very much.