Artist: Michael Schmidt

Title: Georgia Beer Company, Valdosta

Medium: image transfer on paper

Size: approx. 15 x 22 inches

Artist Bio: Michael serves as the Associate Dean of the College of the Arts at Valdosta State University. He served three years as the Head of the Department of Art & Design, and has taught ceramics and foundations courses for nearly 20 years. His creative works have been featured in more than 200 regional, national, and international juried and invitational exhibitions across the United States, and internationally in Korea, Poland, Germany, and China. Michael received his BFA from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in 1998, studying Graphic Design and Art History. He received his MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2001 in Ceramics and Sculpture. Much of his work involves themes of use, function, industry, and a sense of history. He has participated in the DrawProject since its' inception in 2007.

The solvent/Xylene transfer process is a low tech approach to image transfer. Starting from an original digital file, the image is manipulated using my iPhone XR, the Snapseed app, and Adobe Photoshop - exposure, tint, color, hue, saturation, levels, etc., are altered to produce an image appropriate to print and transfer. The image is flipped (reversed horizontally), then printed on standard tabloid paper using an "old-school" HP color LaserJet 5550dtn. The paper is placed face-down on the drawing paper and secured using blue painter's tape. The entire image is covered with a moderate coating of Xylene (use caution - follow all safety instructions and work in a well ventilated area), the image is then burnished repeatedly causing the toner on the printed piece of paper to "release" and adhere to the new surface, in this case the 15x22 DrawProject paper.