18 Jun RISO Artist of the Month Shannon Spence
Meet RISO’s June Artist of the Month
What is your name and the name of your organization/location?
Shannon Spence, Brooklyn, NY
How long have you been in the art industry?
I started getting serious about comics in 2022, so a few years now.
How long have you been using RISO duplicators and the method of RISOGRAPHY?
My husband and pitbull Tater Tot all picked up from Richmond, Virginia and moved up to New York in 2022. I started seeing Riso everywhere, and as a printmaker I needed to figure out where I could learn it. I took a couple courses at the SVA RisoLab and was bitten by the bug. I sensed it was blowing up in popularity so I set out to make a big ol’ indulgent comic in the medium, and that’s how Punk Lab Girl was made.
What are some of your favorite colors to use with a duplicator?
Fluorescent pink, blue, and lime together looks like a day on the beach with a big slushie!
Why RISOGRAPHY?
It was a natural progression from wanting to find a medium between printmaking and comics. I started out with woodcut comics and realized just how long that was gonna take (and that there were people out there like John Vasquez Mejias doing it way better). I’m a rainbowbrite person, so when I saw the colour palettes and inherent textures I just knew it was right for me and the comics I wanted to make.
What would you tell people who are just finding out about RISO Duplicators and the art form of RISOGRAPHY?
There are endless ways to use this medium and we are just starting to scratch at that. It’s an exciting time to be working in RISOgraphy, and the indie comics scene is taking the lead.
Upcoming Events:
I make a comic zine called CART, and I’m always cooped up making comics and Riso pieces and interviews for it. I’ll be bringing it around events like SPX!
Website Links: