Launched in January 2019 by Gregory Santos, Mixed Grit is a unique format, semi-collaborative stone lithograph print trade composed of curated groups, distinguished as numbered rounds, of artists from across the nation.
Within each round, four artists are sent a small lithographic stone in the mail. Stones vary in size but are approximately 8 x 10 inches (203mm x 254mm). The stone surfaces are prepared at level carborundum 220 before being mailed to the artists via USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping.
All images are drawn using only a 40+ years old Korn’s No.3 paper-wrapped lithographic crayon pencil which is supplied with the stone. All artists have creative freedom with their imagery and the only prompt they are given is to “draw an image of quality and purpose.”
Once an artist completes their drawing on the stone and returns it to Denver, CO, each image is processed and printed in a limited edition of 5 copies. Prints are then exchanged by the 4 participating artists with No. 1/5 in the edition being retained by the printer for exhibition purposes.
Artist participation is by invitation only. No prints are for sale directly from Mixed Grit. Paper size for all prints: 18 x 15 inches (457mm x 381mm). Image size varies depending on the dimensions of the individual stones.
Since the launch of the project, 36 artists from 22 states have been invited to participate.
CLICK HERE for the Mixed Grit account on Instagram.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Hello, Print Friend podcast episode.
CLICK HERE to listen to the News Print Podcast episode.
List of participating artists: Ali Norman, Craig Zammiello, Todd Herzberg, Ash Armenta, Jessi Hardesty, Annalise Gratovich, Sage Perrott, Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, Rachel Shelton, Opal Deruvo, Bryn Perrott, Tanja Softić, Rebecca Gilbert, Tonja Torgerson, Carrie Ann Plank, Brandon Williams, Martin Mazorra, Carrie Lingscheit, Valerie Lueth, Jamaal Barber, Jun Lee, Jeffrey Dell, Edie Overturf, Kathryn Polk, Mary Claire Becker, Scott Minzy, Michael Ezzell, Elvia Perrin, Susanna Crum, Elizabeth Jean Younce, Grady Gordon, and Koichi Yamamoto.
Selected prints from Mixed Grit have been exhibited at: The Firehouse Art Center (Longmont, CO), CU Boulder Art Museum FlexSpace (Boulder, CO), Troppus Projects (Kent, OH), Frogman’s Print Workshop (Council Bluffs, IA), Gallery 121 (Nashville, TN)
SPRING 2019
Artist: Ali Norman
Paper: Awagami Hosho Select
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
Artist: Craig Zammiello
Paper: Stonehenge, fawn
Stone: 9 x 12 inches
Artist: Todd Herzberg
Paper: Awagami Kitakata Select
Stone: 10 x 7.75 inches
Artist: Ash Armenta
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, green
Stone: 10.5 x 8.5 inches
SUMMER 2019
Artist: Jessi Hardesty
Paper: Saint Armand, white
Stone: 12.75 x 6.75 inches
Artist: Annalise Gratovich
Paper: Rives BFK, white
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
Artist: Sage Perrott
Paper: Rives BFK, grey
Stone: 10.5 x 7.5 inches
Artist: Reinaldo Gil Zambrano
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, natural
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
FALL 2019
Artist: Rachel Shelton
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 8 x 10 inches
Artist: Opal DeRuvo
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, natural
Stone: 10.75 x 8.75 inches
Artist: Bryn Perrott
Paper: Rives Lightweight
Stone: 10.75 x 8.5 inches
Artist: Tanja Softić
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, green
Stone: 10.25 x 8.25 inches
SPRING 2020
Artist: Rebecca Gilbert
Paper: St. Armand, white
Stone: 9 x 12 inches
Artist: Tonja Torgerson
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 10 x 7.75 inches
Artist: Carrie Ann Plank
Paper: Awagami Kozo Natural
Stone: 8 x 10 inches
Artist: Brandon Williams
Paper: Awagami Okawara Select
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
SUMMER 2020
Artist: Carrie Lingscheit
Paper: Awagami Bunkoshi Select
Stone: 6.75 x 12.75 inches
Artist: Martin Mazorra
Paper: Awagami Bamboo Select
Stone: 9-5/8 x 11-5/8 inches
Artist: Jamaal Barber
Paper: Kozo Natural
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
Artist: Valerie Lueth
Paper: Legion Matrix Premier
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
FALL 2020
Artist: Jun Lee
Paper: Arnhem 1618
Stone: 7 x 9 inches
Artist: Kathryn Polk
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 10.5 x 7.5 inches
Artist: Jeffrey Dell
Paper: Rives BFK Grey
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
Artist: Edie Overturf
Paper: Canson Edition Extra White
Stone: 10 x 12 inches
SUMMER 2022
Artist: Mary Claire Becker
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 10.5 x 8.5 inches
Artist: Scott Minzy
Paper: Saint–Armand, Canal, blue denim
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
Artist: Michael Ezzell
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, natural
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
Artist: Elvia Perrin
Paper: Awagami Bamboo Select
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
WINTER 2023
Artist: Susanna Crum
Paper: Awagami Kitakata, natural
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
Artist: Elizabeth Jean Younce
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 12 x 10 inches
Artist: Grady Gordon
Paper: Awagami Bamboo Select
Stone: 10.25 x 8.25 inches
Artist: Koichi Yamamoto
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 9-5/8 x 11-5/8 inches
Artist: Nicholas Ruth
Paper: Awagami Kozo Natural
Stone: 10.5 x 8.5 inches
Artist: Ryan O’Malley
Paper: Awagami Kitakata Natural
Stone: 10 x 8 inches
Artist: Erin Wohletz
Paper: Awagami Shiramine
Stone: 8.75 x 10.75 inches
Artist: Angela Pilgrim
Paper: Awagami Bunkoshi Select
Stone: 9 x 7 inches
Based out of Denver, Colorado. This map points to where lithographic stones have been mailed to. Each round of artists is color coded in order.