RISO Artist of the Month Riso Geist

What is your name and the name of your organization/location?

Brighton and Derek Ballard, Riso Geist (Salt Lake City, UT, USA)

How long have you been in the art industry?

About 15 years! Derek got involved in art through the hardcore music scene, collecting and admiring packaging and album art since childhood, and Brighton had a lifelong fascination with the art of children’s book illustrators like Richard Scarry and Quentin Blake.

How long have you been using RISO duplicators and the method of RISOGRAPHY?

About 8 years! We’ve been printing with riso since 2017.

What are some of your favorite colors to use with a duplicator?

Derek’s been loving the interplay between Aqua and Sunflower, and Brighton has a particular love for Hunter Green in all combinations.

Why RISOGRAPHY?

Having a background in screenprinting, risography felt like the natural next step in accomplishing beautiful, unique printed flat stock. We were following the call to create things like show flyers, band artwork, posters and prints, and had very few reliable flat stock screen printers in our area and price range. Riso printing allowed us to expand into a whole new world of possibilities, and has helped us continue supporting the things that matter to us, like our local music community, activist orgs, and filmmakers.

What would you tell people who are just finding out about RISO Duplicators and the artform of RISOGRAPHY?

Risograph is more accessible now than ever! If you have a studio nearby, the best way to learn more is to contact them, stop by, support them however you can. Many studios are operating with very little financial support, so a little bit goes a long way, and helps establish a meaningful connection for learning more. If you don’t have a studio nearby, there are tons of online resources and communities who encourage sharing of knowledge.

Of course, also be open to making mistakes, and just as open to finding out how to improve. As easy as risograph is to get into, it’s always exciting to see someone pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and really using the artform to its fullest.

Upcoming Events

We’re looking forward to finally having a short break from in-person events over the holidays, and moving to a new workspace. Please follow along with our journey on our Instagram, and send all the best wishes for getting our machines safely down two flights of stairs!

Website Links:

Instagram: @risogeist
Website: risogeist.com