Hamilton-based artist David O’Connor (Sweet Dave) expands the language of his tattooing practice into printmaking. You Can Do Anything brings together O’Connor’s interest in the history of Western traditional tattooing and fascination with woodcut printmaking.

Artist Statement

Harkening back to early circus imagery and crafted using period-correct printing processes, I wanted this piece to embody the feeling of an outsider folk-art aesthetic while still displaying a high level of draftsmanship and finish.

Since my earliest foray into illustration, my primary interests have been lowbrow art, pop art, and early cartoon animation. Through these interests, I became aware of the history of Western traditional tattooing, a craft whose visual language is deeply rooted in those cultures. Historically, much of the imagery found in traditional tattoo designs is firmly situated within the spectrum of “Americana.” Alongside penny arcades, seedy back-alley shops, and warships, tattooing found one of its principal platforms in travelling carnivals and circus sideshows. These venues became integral to the homogenization of Western tattoo imagery and, in turn, the development of its distinct pictorial identity.

Woodblock printing was frequently used in early circus posters, matchboxes, and other forms of promotional ephemera. I have always been fascinated by the medium’s interplay of layered colours and imagery. The imperfections, off-registration, and ‘happy’ accidents inherent to the process are particularly pleasing to my eye, and I believe they reinforce the lowbrow and outsider aesthetics that inspired this piece.

Laine’s extensive knowledge of historical printing methods was invaluable throughout the project. He helped identify the visual markers of process-based imperfections and showed how they could be recreated intentionally, allowing us to capture the spirit of these historical visual styles while maintaining a high level of technical precision. As we progressed through successive edition proofs, we were able to push and manipulate the woodblock printing process in increasingly deliberate ways. This experimentation allowed us to emphasize the unique textures, inconsistencies, and tactile qualities that make the medium so compelling.
-David O’Connor