The poet must get his weeping done with, 2024

We had the pleasure of printing The poet must get his weeping done with for our friends, Phil Hale and First Thursday.

In late July, we had a fantastic afternoon hosting First Thursday and Phil Hale in our studio to proof their latest edition, an archival pigment print of one of Hale’s favourite paintings of the Johnny Badhair character. The painting, Hale says, “[synthesises] real joie de vivre out of his idiotic enthusiasm and poor judgment.”

The poet must get his weeping done with is the second edition we’ve worked on with Hale, who, working with Evan, our artworking and digital print specialist, pushed all of the most exciting elements of the painting to communicate beautifully in print.

Over the course of the afternoon Evan patiently, methodically, tuned in the colour balance, the saturation, and the tone curves - I saw it burst from an inert map into a vital and slightly stupid shriek of life. Every possible particle of pleasure was pin-pointed and ignited. This is our second collaboration - now they know what I like, and what I want - and we’re developing a terrific, refined partnership.

– Phil Hale

For more information on The poet must get his weeping done with, 2024, and other works by Phil Hale, visit first-thursday.com