Wanna see a fresh face? Caia Koopman joins Thumbtack Press and offer three beautiful (and surreal) prints. I don’t have a favorite - I love them all.

About a year ago I submitted a rather smug and seemingly-learned post to the uproar surrounding the Orphaned Works Amendment to our U.S. Copyright Law on IllustrationMundo.com. There was a fine article by Rob Dunlavey explaining the issue - and I posted a rebuttal that was hasty and mis-informed. I’d link you to the evidence, but frankly, I’m pretty embarrassed by it. Now that the bill has reached Congress, I’ve delved deeper and read the fineprint. This is never easy but…

I WAS DEAD WRONG AND I APOLOGIZE!

The Orphaned Works Bill (S.2913) is deceptive Trojan horse legislation that is designed to hi-jack the ownership of visual works by their creator - truly. This is serious.

I’m not talented enough to summarize the treachery to you in a few lines, but if you would please spend just a few minutes listening to an mp3 interview that Brad Holland gave last month I think you will see (and seeth) like I have over the last couple of hours why this is clearly a mistake.

At that time Brad didn’t have a “call to action” because - rightly so - the final language of the bill had not been introduced to the Senate floor - but now that it has it is crucial that you (especially you California constituents) contact your Senators and Representative and tell them you OPPOSE the Orphaned Works bill.

Now that Thumbtack Press has a studio space, we done put up a sign!

Shane was a big help! But it was Grandpa — the photographer here, and the most recent employee of Thumbtack Press after retiring from his job of thirty-four years!!! — who got this sign into place. Thanks and congratulations Dad!

By the way, did you notice the “MASSAGE THERAPY” sign under ours? /sarcasm

Sometimes I get overloaded running this business. The orders pile up or - even worse - don’t pile up, or I procrastinate bill paying to the point where I curse myself for letting them sit too long, let’s not even talk about taxes (or as I call it; invasive small business proctology), etc.

In short, when I have to deal with the nuts and bolts of Thumbtack Press I get tired, and I question if it’s all really worth it… then I get a print submission like this one, Panda Submarine, from Randell Morgan, and all is well again.

We’re talking with Randell about getting some more work available. We will let you know when it’s available.

Bummer, Nick Dewar has decided to take down 16 prints from his store, BUT WHAT’S THIS!? He’s replaced them with NEW ones!

Today it’s 90 degrees in my neighborhood, which is the first tangible harbinger of Summer - it’s been a long, long winter my friends. So it’s appropriate that Kobe artist Masayoshi Mizuho brings two new prints to his store, including this one titled The First Rain of Summer.

Matthew Woodson brings 12 new prints to Thumbtack Press. I’ll let his work speak for itself.

Thumbtack Press veteran Josh Sears returns, in TECHNICOLOR!! Josh is fun to watch as an artist because he is constantly turning corners and taking broad chances with his work, and always with incredible results - like this on one titled “Crow Alley.”

“Bringing the Bomb,” indeed. Dave Pressler, has blimps on his mind, and he doesn’t mind showing you. I love the images, the narrative, and the subject, but do you know what I like best about Dave’s prints? It’s the time of day he paints. He’s a twilight-kinda guy.

No. literally. Shout.

Shout, a brilliant artist from Milan has added his equally brilliant works as prints on Thumbtack Press. Each piece is impeccably cerebral (yes, I said impeccably cerebral - and I meant to), yet fun at the same time. There’s no shortage of prints to view either - Shout has generously added 23 prints.

There has been an extreme lack of posts on this blog lately, I know, but I have a really good excuse! Thumbtack Press has finally moved out of the garage and into a real-live space!!! I’ve even carved out a corner for my littlest employee! We’ve set roots in the heart of old town Pleasanton. More pictures to come!

This is the hood.

Tony, Bob, Nathan

Nathan Ota and Bob Dob were in town this weekend for the opening of their Gallery1988 show (also with Daniel Peacock). It’s running through the 26th of January so please check it out.

That Bob Dob print behind us, yeah, it’s rad — buy one! The print quality is incredible, and it’s a limited run, so jump on it.

It was great to spend time with old friends, thanks guys! I needed that.

A cool (new?) site called CommandShift3 (clever) puts homepages head-to-head and you vote on the best design.

As of this posting Thumbtack Press has battled 501 times and won 67% of the time, which puts us in the top ten Best designed print sites, I’m honored - okay, I voted for myself once.

Join the carnage and vote for your favorite pretty face in the print category here.

It’s an honor for me to welcome Spanish artist Riki Blanco to Thumbtack Press. He doesn’t arrive empty-handed either, he has 18 incredible prints available for purchase. As you can see I couldn’t chose just one to preview!

Unfortunately it’s too late to get these in time for Christmas presents, but go ahead and get one for yourself, yeah sure, you deserve it.

What a Print! The Birds of a Feather Triptych is my favorite Mutt Ink print. It’s both melancholy and whimsical, heartbreaking and uplifting. They’ve really outdone themselves!

I can’t tell you why these new images from Matt Mills are so stunning. They are, after all, just furniture… But Matt Mills also sells a lot of prints that are just buildings too.

I think it’s like a well-told story, if you try to dissect why it’s great, it loses it’s brilliance.

Wow! Wowwy wow wow! He’s an illustration icon and visual pioneer - he’s J.Otto Siebold and he has prints on Thumbtack Press!.

J.Otto spoke at my Alma Mater when I was a senior; he was a terrific combination of high-larious, informative, and inspiring. He only has three prints up right now, including this one with the beloved Olive hitchin’ a ride, hopefully he’ll have more on the way.

Just in time for Winter! Sarajo Frieden is offering her first Thumbtack Limited Edition print.

Only 50 of “Tangled Up In Blues” will be made available, each signed and numbered by Sarajo … And in the spirit of our belief that great art should be accessible to all we are offering the print for only $60.

If we made it past your spam filters it would be a miracle! Linzie Hunter takes those daily teeth-grinding inbox parasites and turns them into delicious nuggets of philosophical wisdom.

For your sweet tooth; 10 NEW Jeremiah Ketner miniatures have been added this month, most are under $20. You’re welcome.