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Spence W

@spentopaper

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〰️ lil art archive of @squiincy

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I often struggle with referring to myself as an artist. I usually default to saying, "I enjoy making art," as a workaround—as if the title of artist is reserved for someone who's formally trained, has an art degree, or makes a decent living from their work.

Interestingly, I know and follow so many incredibly creative people whom I have no hesitation calling artists, without knowing anything about their backgrounds or whether their art supports them. The double standard is present & very real.

While I'm actively working on dampening my inner critic and claiming ownership of what I enjoy, I have these really cool shots by @winston.lai, where—for the first time—I’m seeing myself with my work. It's a completely different perspective. One that makes me feel and look like an artist, too. Sometimes it takes seeing yourself through a different lens for things to click.

Thank you, @winston.lai, for your photo wizardry and for artistically capturing me in my space and element. These images feel like a very true reflection of my process, my craft, and—even more importantly—how I want to see myself.

Check out Winston’s work and reach out to him directly for your own lifestyle & portrait shots! by @spentopaper

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3 months ago

Freshly printed and fully stocked! 🔥

#baybridge #eastbay #oakland #printmaking #etsy by @spentopaper

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2 months ago

New Bay Bridge prints will be up in the shop soon‼️

#baybridge #eastbay #oakland #sanfrancisco #bayareaart by @spentopaper

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2 months ago

Another bridge print on the way (...just stuck on 80, probably 😅) #bayarea #bayareaartist #baybridge #eastbay #blockprint by @spentopaper

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3 months ago

This fiery gradient keeps pulling me back ❤️‍🔥

And this design takes me back 10 summers ago when I spent it in Delta, UT for a clinical rotation. I went to my first rodeo, went backpacking for the first time, learned how to swing a tennis racket through YouTube vids, and survived a thunderstorm at the top of King's Peak.

I spent most weekends hiking and backpacking the national parks. And I still remember how the summer sun illuminated the orange rock and unique formations—arches, hoodoos, and towering rocks that looked like sliced bread.

This print of Zion NP in this colorway reminds me of that summer.

#zion #zionnp #utah #nps #mighty5 by @spentopaper

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3 months ago

June may be over, but pride never ends 🫶🏽
Happy pride month, happy pride life.

#pride2026 #pridemonth #lgbtqia #loveislove #lovewins by @spentopaper

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3 months ago

Carved this @yellowstonenps block a couple years back and hadn't given it a proper introduction! It's been up on Etsy and after all this time it finally found it's first sale. Celebrating every sale, big or small - bc being able to create something from nothing and to have it resonate with someone out there is a very special feeling 😌

#yellowstone #nationalpark #nps #oldfaithful #wyoming by @spentopaper

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4 months ago

Hard to believe I carved this @joshuatreenps block 4️⃣ years ago! A real testament to the durability of @speedball_art blocks when they’re cared for and properly cleaned between printing sessions. This one has plenty of life left in it - so plenty of joy left to spread.

Every now and then—like today—I’ll get an order for these JTree cards, and it's just the best feeling getting to revisit old favorites.

#joshuatree #nps #nationalpark #usnationalparks by @spentopaper

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4 months ago

A state of mind, a state of being.

Flow state: being "in the zone"; an optimal state of consciousness where you feel and perform at your best, characterized by intense focus, total absorption in an activity, and a loss of time or self-consciousness.

#handlettering #lettering #wordart #stateofflow #flowstate by @spentopaper

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6 months ago

Adding this Bay Bridge carving to my collection of SF prints!

Hand inked & hand pressed - perfect as an all-occasion card and/or a framed mini print

#sanfrancisco #sf #california #baybridge #bayarea by @spentopaper

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5 months ago

This week's @printersolstice prompt was "Two," so thought I'd use it to send some peace your way ✌🏽

I've finally come around to trying chine colle, which is this technique that involves sandwiching thin paper between the carving and the paper being printed to add a pop of color and texture to the print.

Japanese washi paper is commonly used (and is what I'm using here) because it's thin, yet relatively durable. I was curious what else might work, so I cut up some newspaper and that worked surprisingly well too.

Properly aligning the washi/newspaper onto the stamp without smudging it was a big challenge. Some minor misalignments and ink smudges, but it was a relatively successful first go 🤙🏽

More experiments to come. Stay curious my friends 🫰🏽

#chinecolle #peace #printersolstice2526 #printmaking by @spentopaper

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8 months ago

I said this a couple times in different contexts lately, and it so naturally fit this week's @printersolstice theme—"Odd".

I've always had a very soft spot for typography & hand lettering and am hoping to integrate more type into things moving forward. This warped, hypnotic effect seemed to really fit the vibe for this one. And if you recognize this paper, you're a real one 🫶🏽—I made it a few years back using scraps from my parents' shredder—the posts on that stint are way back on my feed by now!

The variation in color, texture, and decked edges of the paper perfectly compliment this text. Every piece is so full of character and perfectly unique, with little Easter eggs hidden in each one when you look close enough. I was also pleasantly surprised how well the print transferred despite all the texture. It has sparked more thoughts on handmade paper & print combinations, and if another paper-making session is to be had soon..

Tools: @flexcut.tools
Block: @blickartmaterials
Ink: @speedball_art
Brayer: @speedball_art
Paper: handmade recycled

#printersolstice #printersolstice2526 #odd #crazy #linocut taken in San Mateo, California by @spentopaper

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8 months ago