For our second Artist Q&A I bring you Summer Makovkin of Maiden Hand. I ran across her work on Gigposters a while ago and have been a fan of her stuff since. I’m sure you’ll dig her work, too. In addition to gig posters, Summer puts out some cool cards and other illustrated items on her Etsy shop… check it. Finally, thanks for giving your fans a little insight into your work
Where are you from, how long have you been printing posters, and about how many prints do you put out per year?
Summer Makovkin - Noise Pop
I grew up on the rugged ocean cliffs of Mendocino, California, which is about 3 hours north of San Francisco. I now live in San Francisco and I have been designing and silkscreening posters since 2005. The amount of posters that I do per year varies. When I first started I was hungry for experience and I averaged about one poster a month. This last year I think I only made 2 posters, but I also participated in 3 art shows including my first solo exhibit.
What poster are most proud of and what was the inspiration behind the piece?
I am most proud of the Midlake poster that I did for the 2007 Noise Pop festival here in SF. I put a lot of work into this poster, and so far it has been the most difficult one that I’ve printed or designed. The inspiration for the imagery was taken directly from Midlake’s album The Trials Of Van Occupanther. It is an amalgamation of imagery from the lyrics of a few different songs. The result is a rabbit and an Ox, the book Leviathan, the countryside, and a sort of modern antiquity all wrapped into one. Many lessons were learned during the process of creating this poster, and at one point it literally had me on my knees crying. But, great things happen when one pushes on. I came out the other side with my favorite poster in one hand and some wisdom in the other. What could be better?
Summer Makovkin - M3
Did you have a mentor who helped get you involved in this work and if so tell me a little bit about that situation.
I didn’t really have a mentor until I’d been printing for a couple of years. When I started, I was just looking for a way to add color to my illustrations without getting involved in painting or water color. There was a silkscreening class available in the community education program at the San Francisco Art Institute, so I signed up to see what I could learn. From there I put together a simple studio in my home and began forging ahead on my own. I didn’t have an exposure unit, so I would take my screens to the SF Mission Cultural Center where Juan
Summer Makovkin - Ex Boyfriends
Fuentes, who ran the printing department, would help me out by cleaning and coating and exposing my screens. I got to know Juan over the next couple of years and he showed me a few tricks of the trade. Out of gratitude, I would give him a poster from each run of posters that I printed. He ended up including these posters in the archives at the San Francisco Mission Cultural Center.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in 2009?
Well, I’d like to focus more on my roots: illustration. And, I’d like to create art prints – not limited to the poster genre. I recently learned coptic book binding, and I’d like to bring that to the table. So, I think, in my future, I see a limited edition hand-screened, hand-bound book of some sort. I want to continue designing and printing posters, but I’d like to be more selective about the bands. Posters are very labor intensive and don’t pay well, so I want it to remain a labor of love. Essentially, I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing, following the urge to create, chasing the next vision, moving forward, and pouring my heart out through my hand. One of these days I hope I can forget about the day job and just be an artist.
What music do you currently have in your playlist and who are your all time favorite recording artists?
Summer Makovkin - Red Thread
My husband and I both actively seek out new music, but neither of us could claim an “all time favorite” – though, Radiohead would be right up there in the top 5 for sure. Our broad love for music is reflected in our collection of CDs and records that span from 16th century music to present day indie rock. My husband is in a band The Love X Nowhere and he often spends time at home writing new music. I recently came home with Andrew Bird’s newest album, Noble Beast, which has proved to be my current favorite. I actually listen to a lot of classical music. I am learning to play the cello, and I listen to a lot of Rostropovich recordings. Also, Ralph Vaughan Williams. I love the romantic symphonies with rich string sections. I also love the soundtrack to Amelie. Cornelius is genius. John Vanderslice is nice. Fleet Foxes, Broken Social Scene, and Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Heavy funk rarities from the late sixties. Heavyweight Afrobeat Highlife and Afro-funk. The Helio Sequence, and Sigur Ros. Nina Simone, and Millie Jackson. And the list goes on, and on……
Finally, do you offer an annual subscription service and what is the easiest way to find out when you release a new print.
Checking my website is the best way to see new work. Perhaps a subscription service will be available in the future. I am working on updating my website, and should have it finished the next few months. Gig Posters is always the best place to catch new posters. I also have an Etsy site that I update from time to time.
www.maidenhand.com/
http://www.gigposters.com/designer/71647_Summer_Makovkin.html
www.smakovkin.etsy.com