clever
Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
~1 Chronicles 16:30
Hello & Welcome!
Clever Penguin is the home of a design studio based in Northwest Georgia that creates original and custom artwork using linocut printmaking and digital techniques.
Well, not exactly a “studio” but I hope to get there one day.
A good bit of my inspiration comes from animals and nature, although usually in an offbeat way. I’ve always loved giving a “personality” to non-persons. The artwork & illustrations on this site will generally have the overarching theme of animals & inanimate objects donning a humorous character.
All linocuts are drawn, carved and printed by me. Digital prints are printed by my production partner, which works out nicely as far as cost and production abilities. Right now, this only includes some of my t-shirts, mugs, and stickers.
This website is a storefront and blog for these creations. Please be patient, some are upcoming. Grow with me as I learn new techniques and processes in this new venture!
To read more about me and my goals with Clever Pengu.in, click here.
What is Linocut Printmaking?
art that’s meant to be shared
A linocut is a relief print produced similarly to a woodcut, but uses linoleum as the surface that the design is cut into relief and then printed.
Linoleum was invented in 1860 by a British rubber manufacturer, Fredrick Walton, who was looking for a cheaper product. Lino is made from linseed oil and Walton got the idea by observing the skin produced by oxidized linseed oil that forms on paint.
The use of lino to create art was primarily attributed to German Expressionists such as Erich Heckel (1883-1944) and Gabriele Munter (1877-1962). Picasso is known to have produced his first linocuts in 1939 and continued doing so into the early 1960s.
Printmaking is the oldest technique to share art, and art is meant to be shared. Printmaking has always had the concept of reproduction associated to its definition. One linoleum block can usually produce several original prints. In the past, it allowed for a cheaper way to reproduce paintings and artwork and make them more accessible. However, it has evolved into an art form of its own and, nowadays, printmaking represents craftsmanship and skill that can thrive on its own with its own visual languages.
Subhumans are people too!
Do you have a favorite animal or kitchen appliance, or some other non-person that you would like to see come to life in their character and personality? I would love to discuss new ideas, or the possibity of commissioned pieces, and new projects – please get in touch!
penguin