The woodcut novels of Lynd Ward and Frans Masereel, as well as art movements from the 1920s to 1950s, inspired Florida’s Kreg Yingst to pivot from painting to printmaking.
The artist: Yingst grew up in Libertyville, Ill. He earned an undergraduate degree in studio art from Trinity University (Texas) and a master’s degree in painting from Eastern Illinois University.
After college, he taught high school art for 13 years in Illinois, while teaching himself printmaking. In 2003, Yingst left his teaching position and moved to Pensacola to become a full-time artist.
The goods: Block prints, woodcuts, linocuts, and vinyl cuts (typically $25 to $4,000). Relief print, such as these, are where the surface is inked and printed from a carved block.
What’s popular: Music-related block prints, especially of The Fab Four and classic rockers such as Queen, David Bowie and Jerry Garcia. These are all limited editions of 245 in number. Also smaller prints ($25 to $65).
Other favorites; Smaller framed work, which comes with a printed mat and hand-painted frame with embellishments, especially the 45 record series ($160 to $195).
The process: Yingst designs, carves, inks, paints and prints his work on an antique proof press originally used for letterpress (movable type).
When he purchased the press, Yingst inherited the type. He occasionally incorporates type and letterpress design into the background of his work or on the matting.
Carving time: Depending on the details and size, Yingst can do smaller blocks (three inches by two inches) in a few hours. His largest block (five feet and three feet) took two months to carve.
Big breaks: A 15-year retrospective of his paintings and prints at Pensacola State College in 2016.
Last year, an exhibition of his Blues block prints at the Artel Gallery in Pensacola. The Blues series was Yingst’s first foray into music prints. He cut them to look scratchy and printed them on aged tobacco paper.
What’s new: A series of drawings and block prints about the Celtic saints.
Where to buy: kregyingst.com. For music related work, visit etsy.com/shop/kkyingst. For spiritual/religious work, check etsy.com/shop/workingarts
Get social at: kregyingst on facebook and instagram.
