Like Etsy before it, Kickstarter is really starting to forge itself as a brilliantly useful tool for independent artists, offering the opportunity to fund the printing of art and gauge the marketplace prior to printing. It also offers pop art fans the opportunity to get hold of great prints without the stress of waiting for print drops or queuing for galleries.

Artist Dave Berns of Hot Damn Arts is currently undertaking his 5th and final Kickstarter campaign for 2013. Dave’s current Kickstarter is for a mixed selection of new pop culture parody screenprints. To offset the considerable printing costs, Dave is making a limited number of each of the prints  that are slated for gallery shows in the first part of 2014 available to pre-order via Kickstarter.

“The Dark Side Returns” 8″ x 24″ 4-color Silkscreen in Indigo, Red, Bright Blue and Glow-in-the-Dark inks Edition of 60 on Cougar 100# White Paper.

“Let Him Go!” 9″ x 24″ 4-color Silkscreen in Dark Purple, Red, Bright Blue and Metallic Gold inks Edition of 60 on Cougar 100# White Paper

To make things even more exciting, Dave is offering the 30 lowest numbered copies of each signed print (20 available for individual order & 10 as part of a package deal) as a Kickstarter exclusive for standard pricing with free domestic shipping. Prints individually range from $25 – $40 with pledge packages ranging from $25 – $200 for single prints and multiple print packages.

Many of these prints are being produced for gallery shows to be held throughout the first part of 2014, including ‘Nerdcore’ and ‘Square’ at Ink & Pistons Gallery, ‘Imagined Worlds’ at Hero Complex Gallery and Bear & Bird Gallery.

“Don’t Be A…” 12″ x 12″ 4-color Silkscreen in Dark Purple, Red, Metallic Silver and  Metallic Gold inks Edition of 60 on Cougar 100# White Paper

“Brains Are A Girl’s Best Friend” 9″ x 12″ 4-color Silkscreen in Dark Purple, Red, Bright Blue and Metallic Gold inks Edition of 60 on Cougar 100# White Paper

This Kickstarter is a great example of how artists can utilise the service to promote early support of their work, making prints for gallery & art fair sales possible. Dave is also keen to point out that if you’re local to any of those venues, you can buy the pieces in person at the gallery openings, so that your purchase supports both the artist & gallery.

“A Long Time From Now In A Galaxy Not Far Away…”  Buck Rogers &  Star  Wars’ Original Theatrical Poster Parody Mashup Art. Hand-printed 18 x 24 4 color Screen Print in Indigo, Metallic Blue, Metallic Silver &  Bright Orange on Cougar 100lb White. First Printing, Limited Edition of  60

“Hail to the King, Baby!” Pop Culture  mash-up of Elvis & Army of Darkness.
Limited Edition of 100. Signed & Numbered Standard  Screenprint. 4 Color Silkscreen 16 x 20 image area on 18 x 24 Natural  Speckle-tone French brand Paper.

To support this Kickstarter head on over to the campaign page and take a gander at what you can pick up. Also, be sure to follow Dave Berns at Hot Damn Arts over at their Website as well as Twitter and Facebook.