Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Last year, printmaker Caroline Hanson miniaturized her artwork down to the size of a business card and created a series of Appalachian prints to sell in her art vending machines.
Hanson received a grant from the West Virginia Department of Culture, Arts and History to purchase three vending machines which she filled with a limited edition of 1,800 prints in 18 designs. One machine was installed at the Rivertown building in Marlinton, one at the Wild Bean in Lewisburg and the third one, Hanson uses when she travels to craft festivals and fairs.
The first series of prints did so well – in fact, they sold out – that Hanson decided to create a second series featuring 12 new designs and a new color scheme.
“This was my effort at expanding upon the opportunities that I had with West Virginia Department of Culture, Arts and History, and just continuing the project,” she said.
The new series features prints of the Mill Point mill, salt rising bread, a cider press, a fiddle, butter beans, Paw Paws, trillium, American chestnut, a steam engine, a quilt, a wooly bugger fly and a rattlesnake.
“I’m making another 1,800 prints,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll sell out, too.”
In addition to expanding to a second series of prints, Hanson is also adding a fourth vending machine, which will be at the visitors center in Bath County, Virginia.
“I just got a grant from Bath County Arts Association to make a Bath County specific vending machine, so they’re going to have a series of eight to ten images,” she said.
Since the machines provide an affordable way to share her art – one print is just four quarters – Hanson is expanding her business in other ways to share the art of printmaking.
She has been commissioned to create logos and artwork for several regional bands, and she is starting a class series in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties this month.
“My first one is February 4 at the White Sulphur Springs public library,” she said. “Then one on February 6 at the Wellness Center in Marlinton and February 12 at Green Bank Library.”
The classes are open to ages 13 to adult and will be relief printing Valentine workshops. Pre-registration is required by calling 304-799-7386 and each class costs $15.
“I’m hoping to expand that a little bit, too, with different libraries and event centers that have classes,” she said.
Hanson has also added a high-quality archival scanner to her collection which allows her to make high quality digital images of her prints. She plans to provide access to area artists who wish to make digital images of their own work.
As her art business continues to grow and expand into new territory, one thing is certain – she will always be known for the vending machine art.
“I’ve become known as the quarter lady at the bank,” she said, laughing.
