Department Store Printmaking Screen Print Studio

Arsenal Handicraft

posted by Amber Weaver August 14, 2018

Arsenal Handicraft is the husband and wife team of Dennis and Christina Jacobs. This talented creative pair run a two-person screen printing/illustration studio out of their home in Michigan, United States. Their DIY set up means they design and print everything in the house, hand pulling all of their prints on a vacuum table they built themselves.
Dennis was a huge fan of Shepard Fairey, and he began experimenting with spraypaint stencils. This transitioned into screen printing using hand-cut stencils and eventually, they learned how to use the photo emulsion method of creating screens.

The first thing Dennis and Christina printed collaboratively was their wedding invitations. They then started creating small art prints that we would sell on Etsy and at local craft shows. Thereafter, this transitioned into working on concert posters for local bands, and then into doing posters for touring acts. Some of the bands they created for are Ray Lamontagne, David Gray, Ra Ra Riot, Nada Surf, and Mike Birbiglia. After a few years of exercising their talents in the music industry, they moved away from concert posters to focus on art prints for release through galleries and online.

We were able to speak with Dennis and found how what mostly inspires their wonderful creations. “We are inspired by the beauty in nature. We often go for hikes in Michigan. Last year we spent a week on the Oregon coast, which has inspired much of our recent work. We try to incorporate a sense of story within each of our prints and being out in nature leaves us with plenty of inspiration.” — Dennis Jacobs.

August begins their show season, meaning they’ll be setting up at various art and craft fairs around the country selling their wonderful work. Currently, they’re working on a glow in the dark space-themed print series which we can’t wait to see!