BestiaryRisograph Zine
April 2025
This zine is a dialogue between artists, medium, and machine. I wanted to push the boundaries of my riso printing practice and challenge how I create imagery. I used digital 3D modeling, collage, pixel, art, and several other processes to create a collection of illustrations of dragons. I wanted to play with image, surface, and imperfection, and see how the printer's limitations and quirks characterize the zine. 

Because of the dispersed and informal nature of risograph communities and the lack of formal publishing, much of my research comes from community demos, workshops, and self-published resources. My primary reference on the functionality and mechanics of risograph is from a workshop I attended with Robert Baxter, and an unofficial risograph guide he wrote titled Risograph Maintenance Tutorial: Third Edition. Between this and the flourishing Riso community at MassArt, I learned a lot about the intricacies of MassArt’s Risograph printer

Risograph machines all have their quirks. As they wear down, they develop specific print errors. It breaks frequently at a high-traffic machine like ours, and the community that uses the machine develops printing strategies and shares repair tips. As I printed this zine, I found myself having many conversations about our machine. This project allowed me to explore this machine, connect with other artists, and push the limits of my art practice by using a machine with limited functionality. It made me embrace imperfections and adapt on the fly to how the printer was functioning week to week. It was an exercise in both learning about my art practice and further connecting with my community.