Getting to know printmaker James Thornton and graphic designer Alesha Rowe the owners and operators of Catch Wreck Printmakers in Melbourne.
Introducing Catch Wreck Printmakers, where creativity meets precision, and every print tells a story. Since 2015, this small, art-loving family business has been pushing the boundaries of screenprinting, transforming from a creative outlet into a fine art screenprinting and giclee printing service. With their shop dog Rico by their side and 18-month-old apprentice Monty learning the ropes, Catch Wreck Printmakers brings a unique blend of passion, expertise, and a touch of whimsy to every project they undertake.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the fascinating journey of Catch Wreck Printmakers, exploring their growth, challenges, and the incredible projects that have shaped their path. From wallpapering squats with cigarette butt patterns to contributing to renowned art exhibitions, this team has seen it all. Get ready to be inspired by their dedication to the craft, their willingness to learn from mistakes, and their constant pursuit of perfection in the ever-evolving world of screenprinting.
Keep up to date with Catch Wreck Printmakers
Instagram: @catchwreck_printmakers
Website: catchwreck.com.au
Email: Print@catchwreck.com.au
Photos: @lucewillis
About Matt
List 3 things about yourself – fun facts, hobbies, pets or interests
- Small art loving family business
- We have a shop dog, his name is Rico
- We have an 18 month old apprentice called Monty
Describe your screen printing journey. How and when did you get started and what has been your biggest learning experience?
Catch Wreck Printmakers started in 2015 and was initially just a creative outlet to showcase artwork, designs, projects and original print products that we made ourselves. Over time the company drifted away from products and Catch Wreck became what it is today offering a fine art screenprinting and giclee printing service.
The biggest learning experience for us in screenprinting has been making mistakes, it’s the only way you get better and one of the main ways that people learn screenprinting these days is by fucking everything up at least once in every way possible.
I feel like we get better with each print edition we do and learn a little more each time. It seems like there’s no end to improving in screenprinting and the deeper you get into the technical stuff the more interesting it gets.
Tell us about your proudest screen printing project. What made it special and what did you learn from it?
I once designed and screen printed a repetitive pattern of cigarette butts in large scale, my brother was living in a squat at that time and we decided to wall paper the bathroom with the cigarette posters. (See attached)
Another proud moment (also wall paper related) was screenprinting the wall papers that featured in Melbourne Street artist Rone’s art exhibition “EMPIRE” at the Burnham Beeches mansion in the Dandenongs.
Industry
What are your thoughts on the current trends in screen printing? Do you see any emerging styles or techniques that excite you?
I think with art printing special effects inks are coming back and things like metallic papers and different finishes. In relation to t-shirts I’ve noticed that puff ink has come back in a big way and that’s cool.
What role does the online community play in your screen printing practice? How do you connect with other printers and share knowledge?
Instagram is usually how we keep in touch with other local and international printing mates, it’s great that there are a lot of screen print experts around that are very accessible and willing to share their secrets and knowledge with other printers.
The local Facebook group (AASPI) is a good resource of information and it is great to see what other people are doing. It’s a good community and good to see people reaching out on there and getting the answers they are looking for quickly.
Shop Floor
What your most treasured product or piece of equipment on the floor that has made your life easier as a printer? Why?
Our favourite item in our studio would have to be our ‘SIAS SIMPLEX S’ flat bed semi auto print bench. This machine is the backbone of our business and it has had an incredible life! Along with this like most old machines comes a lot of personality and ‘quirks’ that we have grown to love. This machine wont quit, it belonged to Australian street artist Rone for many years before it was put to thorough use at Dangerfork Print Co. while they were still operational and finally acquired by us here at Catch Wreck Printmakers, it has been with us since 2015 and survived the move from three different studios.
What is on your wish list for your shop floor this year?
Lots and lots of customers.
Advice
What advice would you give to aspiring screen printers? What are the essential skills and qualities for success in this field?
Read everything you can and learn the science behind it all as well as the practical stuff, Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Stay calm (which is easier said than done).
Bonus
Share a funny or unexpected mishap you’ve encountered while screenprinting.
Once we were on a tight deadline and a truck hit the powerlines out the front so we had to fork lift the press to a mates warehouse down the road so we could finish a job.
The worst one I can remember though was while I was printing for Dangerfork Print Co. And we’d just finished printing these really tricky A0 size art posters that were supposed to ship to Sydney on the Monday. We dropped them off at the print finishers on Friday to guillotine 1cm of each side to cut off the rego marks etc. and when we went to pick them up on Monday they had cut 500 A0 size posters down into business cards, so instead of 500 posters we ended up with about 10 boxes of coloured useless cards all neatly packed and stacked in rubber bands.
What’s your go-to playlist for a productive printing session?
Usually gangster rap or comedy podcasts (the little dum dum club and phone hacks are our favourites).
What is the weirdest/funniest artwork you’ve had to print?
We get a lot of strange jobs but the weirdest one was a request to print on a giant, over sized wooden book that was made by British artists ‘The Connor Brothers’. The printers in the UK had missed a line of type and sent it out to the buyer.
We had our mates at Jones brothers mix us up a custom colour of a specialty ink that would stick to it and then crossed our fingers we wouldn’t destroy a very very expensive artwork with a single pass. Luckily we pulled it off.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Catch Wreck Printmakers exemplifies the spirit of creativity and resilience in the world of screenprinting. From their beginnings in 2015 to their current status as a fine art printing service, this small family business has embraced every challenge as a learning opportunity. Their memorable projects, like printing on giant wooden books and wallpapering squats, highlight their adaptability and innovative spirit.
With their trusty SIAS SIMPLEX S flat bed semi-auto print bench and a lively atmosphere fueled by gangster rap and comedy podcasts, they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. As they look to the future with their eager apprentice Monty, Catch Wreck Printmakers reminds us that every mistake is a lesson, and every print is a chance to create something extraordinary. Here’s to their ongoing journey of artistic exploration and success!
Written by the Jones Brothers Printechnology Team in collaboration with Catch Wreck Printmakers, James Thornton and Alesha Rowe.
