Launched in January 2019 by Gregory Santos, Mixed Grit is a unique format, semi-collaborative stone lithograph print trade composed of curated groups, distinguished as numbered rounds, of artists from across the nation.

Within each round, four artists are sent a small lithographic stone in the mail. Stones vary in size but are approximately 8 x 10 inches (203mm x 254mm). The stone surfaces are prepared at level carborundum 220 before being mailed to the artists via USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping.

All images are drawn using only a 40+ years old Korn’s No.3 paper-wrapped lithographic crayon pencil which is supplied with the stone. All artists have creative freedom with their imagery and the only prompt they are given is to “draw an image of quality and purpose.”

Once an artist completes their drawing on the stone and returns it to Denver, CO, each image is processed and printed in a limited edition of 5 copies. Prints are then exchanged by the 4 participating artists with No. 1/5 in the edition being retained by the printer for exhibition purposes.

Artist participation is by invitation only. No prints are for sale directly from Mixed Grit. Paper size for all prints: 18 x 15 inches (457mm x 381mm). Image size varies depending on the dimensions of the individual stones. 

Since the launch of the project, 36 artists from 22 states have been invited to participate.

CLICK HERE for the Mixed Grit account on Instagram.

CLICK HERE to listen to the Hello, Print Friend podcast episode.

CLICK HERE to listen to the News Print Podcast episode.

List of participating artists: Ali Norman, Craig Zammiello, Todd Herzberg, Ash Armenta, Jessi Hardesty, Annalise Gratovich, Sage Perrott, Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, Rachel Shelton, Opal Deruvo, Bryn Perrott, Tanja Softić, Rebecca Gilbert, Tonja Torgerson, Carrie Ann Plank, Brandon Williams, Martin Mazorra, Carrie Lingscheit, Valerie Lueth, Jamaal Barber, Jun Lee, Jeffrey Dell, Edie Overturf, Kathryn Polk, Mary Claire Becker, Scott Minzy, Michael Ezzell, Elvia Perrin, Susanna Crum, Elizabeth Jean Younce, Grady Gordon, and Koichi Yamamoto.

Selected prints from Mixed Grit have been exhibited at: The Firehouse Art Center (Longmont, CO), CU Boulder Art Museum FlexSpace (Boulder, CO), Troppus Projects (Kent, OH), Frogman’s Print Workshop (Council Bluffs, IA), Gallery 121 (Nashville, TN)