Max Prussner. Photograph by @chrismongeauphoto.
Somebody as soon as stated, “Select a job that you simply love and also you’ll by no means should work a day in your life.” That’s how Max Prussner feels about music. And whereas he led his band Max Prussner and the Horrible Issues, he discovered the job that enabled him to make his music life-style a actuality. It was his function as lead singer and guitar participant that obtained him into his subsequent gig working a display screen printing press. And all of it occurred organically.
“I merely wished to make my band’s merch,” he says. “I wished to display screen print my very own LP sleeves and T-shirts.” Prussner obtained a job working with a neighborhood display screen printing store for a 12 months and accomplished all the required coaching to learn to do it himself. That was 2008-2009, however then a possibility to tour along with his band got here calling, so he put his newfound talent (and ending college) on maintain to comply with his desires.
The Challah sweatshirt printed by Prussner Printing, accessible at Oak Bakeshop. Photograph by Victoria Costello of @victakesashot.
“After I obtained signed, I left the world and toured with the band for 2 years,” he says. “I did no display screen printing throughout that point, after which when that band broke up, I got here house and went again to high school to complete my artwork diploma.”
In school, Prussner pursued a level in wonderful arts. His professor Jason Chase seen his pursuits and helped goal his private research towards display screen printing. “He supplied me a possibility to do what I wished to do in his class versus following the curriculum,” Prussner says. “I plugged display screen printing instead of portray or working with pastels, and he facilitated that.”
As soon as Prussner made the transfer to skilled display screen printing, he obtained his personal handbook four-station, six-color printing press with micro registration, which he retains in his studio situated within the basement of his house in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Prussner Printing was formally in enterprise.
Utilizing art work equipped by shoppers, he creates stencils by exposing the display screen and the stencil to gentle. “The art work is the blackest of black on a transparency that permits you to shoot the display screen,” he says. “That solidifies the picture emulsion you’ve coated your display screen with across the art work. It retains the areas of the stencil smooth, so you may wash it out with water afterwards, which creates the stencil.”
KIds T-shirts at Andrade’s Catch sport the “Clam Fam” design printed by Prussner Printing.
He began off printing merch for space bands, along with producing his personal band’s T-shirts. Then one in all his bandmates, bass participant Paul Kettelle began PVDonuts along with his spouse, Lori Kettelle. Paul had the concept to create merch for his or her viral and quirky doughnut store that had strains winding down the block earlier than it even opened its doorways within the morning.
“Paul stated, ‘Hey we’re going to wish you to do that,’” Prussner says. And the individuals, they purchased the T-shirts sporting an iconic blue-frosted, sprinkle-topped deal with with the PVDonuts enterprise title on them, successfully changing into strolling billboards for the model. Earlier than that, it wasn’t as frequent to see individuals rocking enterprise’s logos on T-shirts and different merch as a part of their private fashion, says Prussner.
T-shirt and a onesie at PVDonuts.
As soon as he landed the PVDonuts account, different companies wished display screen printed T-shirts, sweatshirts, koozies, sweatpants and even underwear with their logos and model names on them. He will get the T-shirts and sweatshirts at wholesale, however the art work should be equipped by the consumer. If a enterprise wants assist with design, Prussner outsources work to 2 graphic designers, primarily Jon Cafarella, and generally Hallie Driscoll.
“Jon’s been my go-to graphic designer for years,” he says. “If it’s so simple as I want art work that’s despatched to me formatted appropriately, he does that, or if a consumer wants design work, I’ve despatched them to him.”
Prussner’s display screen printing shoppers embody Walrus and Carpenter Oysters, Pemaquid Mussel Farms, Andrade’s Catch, Rebelle Artisan Bagels, Little Sister, Chilangos, Tiny Bar, Oak Bakeshop, and the bar the place he additionally bartends, Kimi’s Bar. He additionally nonetheless prints for native bands together with indie rocker Ryland Bouchard.
Tanks at Kimi’s Bar.
Kimi’s is supporting Prussner Printing by stocking printed tank tops, T-shirts and koozies with the Kimi’s brand on them. Prussner sells his personal merch on the spot whereas slinging cocktails. He’s additionally gearing as much as file once more for an album. His private display screen printing enterprise permits him to make his personal schedule and dedicate ardour in the direction of his old flame: music.
Some weeks are busier than others. “I began reserving printing jobs like a tattoo artist. I ebook shoppers month to month,” he says, including that subsequent month, he’ll be printing for Twenty Tales bookstore and the craft cocktail bar Glou. “This can be a means for me to handle my time, so I can nonetheless do the issues I need to do.”
He want to develop his work to extra shoppers, however plans to stay to supporting the native space. “I take pleasure in being part of the Windfall restaurant group,” he says, “and I want to proceed to develop inside this group.” maxprussner.com
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