For several years, I have participated in a show in Bulgaria called International Miniprint Kazanlak. There are several miniprint exhibitions throughout Europe, where the prints are miniatures, usually no larger than four or five inches square. They are lots of fun because you can just ship the unmounted prints easily through the mail, and they will mount them for the exhibition unframed. This makes it super easy to ship prints, because shipping framed prints overseas is extremely expensive – and it can run afoul of customs. (I remember a show in London that was a pain the the butt!)

Miniprint Kazalnlak is also a great show because they are interested in new and experimental forms of printmaking, not just the old, traditional methods. This year is my fifth year participating in Miniprint Kazanlak, and I had three prints accepted: Bookhound, Identity, and Sky Rat. These are relatively new prints, done just last year. Bookhound and Sky Rat will also be appearing in my new book, Willoughby’s World of Wonder, coming out very soon!

I have to admit, being a New Yorker, Sky Rat is one of my favorite prints of my recent work. I love humor and satire in my art, and I truly believe that you can combine serious art, subtle social commentary, and wicked satire all together. It’s loads of fun!

Here are the three prints signed and ready to be shipped to Europe. Like most miniprint exhibitions, Kazanlak has a maximum paper size of 7 x 7″, and prints that exceed that limit are rejected from the show. I like to do small editions, usually 25 to 50 prints in an edition (except for Dream-Dollars), and I sign and number them in pencil. I always print my work on either Canson or Hahnemuhle museum-grade archival paper. As an artist, your materials matter, and collectors (and curators) look at what type of materials you use to judge if you are a serious artist or not.

Finally, I put each print in a plastic sleeve to protect them in shipment, and I sent them off via Registered Mail to Europe a few days ago. Someday, I hope to visit Bulgaria and see the show in person. I hear that Kazanlak is a beautiful city….