Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Davis.
Matt, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got into Risograph printing (a cheap and colorful photocopy-screenprint-mimeograph hybrid printer that my business is built on) while in school – using a Risograph we bought used from the post office. Risographs were fast and exciting – and since I wasn’t an art student, it was the main way I printed my artwork.
Perfectly Acceptable started in my living room a few months after I had graduated from college. I bought a Risograph almost immediately after moving to Chicago. I came to Chicago at a time when there was a lot of interest in Risograph printing, but not a lot of people doing it. I made a small website and soon after I was getting requests from people to print my artwork. Contract printing became my main source of income a year later. To keep myself entertained and to put more art that I wanted to see out into the world, I began publishing books by artists from around the world, which I now sell online and at shows.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel pretty lucky – the road has been pretty smooth. I had to live on a pretty tight budget for the first year or so, but that wasn’t a huge change from my college lifestyle. The biggest holdup for me is always the fear of taking the leap to get to the next stage – moving my studio from my apartment to an official studio space, approaching an artist who I really admire + respect, hiring a part-time employee. The leaps have always paid off, though 🙂
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Perfectly Acceptable Press – what should we know?
Perfectly Acceptable is a small Risograph print shop and art book publisher. We are one of the few Risograph printers in the United States who has been consistently offering contract print services – and I like to think we are among the best printers, too. In the comics and art book world, we are known for our publishing work – we print books by a diverse cast of artists from around the world that experiment with form and narrative. We are interested in finding ways to push boundaries without losing accessibility.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Consistency more than anything. Clients always remark that the reason they continue to print with us is our friendliness and promptness in response. I think that extends to publishing, too – we maintain a standard of work and people have come to know us for that.
Pricing:
- Our books are generally $10-25
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.perfectly-acceptable.com
- Email: info@perfectly-acceptable.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/perfectlyacceptable
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/perfectlyacceptable
Image Credit:
Daria Tessler, Anna Haifisch, Chris Day
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