Check Out Aaron Kent’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Kent.

Hi Aaron, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We started out as a small, community-focused screen-printing co-op for artists, offering hands-on classes and giving local creatives the opportunity to use our studio to produce their own artwork. In those early days, we were primarily a fine art studio, dedicated to experimentation, collaboration, and supporting artists in bringing their visions to life.

Over time, as more people saw the quality of the work being created in our space, we began receiving regular commissions to design and print artwork and posters. What started as a few special requests gradually grew into a steady stream of projects, and that side of our work naturally expanded into printing on T-shirts and other apparel.

Today, we’ve evolved into more of a commercial screen-printing studio, working with a wide range of clients and producing custom prints for events, businesses, organizations, and individuals. Even as we’ve grown and taken on more commercial work, we remain deeply committed to our roots. We still welcome artists into our studio, providing them with space, equipment, and support so they can continue to create their fine art projects in the same spirit of creativity and community that we began with.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road for me. As the studio grew, the challenges grew right alongside it, and I quickly realized that my knowledge as a businessman and my understanding of finances were not where they needed to be. What started as a passion-driven creative space slowly became a full-fledged business, and I wasn’t fully prepared for that transition. Trying to find the right kind of help became a problem in itself.

We went through a couple of bad eggs—people who either didn’t have our best interests at heart or simply weren’t qualified to guide us properly—and each misstep set us back in ways I didn’t always see until it was too late. My own lack of financial knowledge only amplified these issues. I could feel that something wasn’t working, but I didn’t always have the tools or vocabulary to fix it.

At my core, I was an artist who knew how to screen print, manage a studio, and bring creative ideas to life. I understood design, production, and how to keep projects moving. But I wasn’t a financial planner. I didn’t know how to build a solid financial strategy, balance money effectively, manage cash flow, or keep credit lines low and healthy. Learning those skills while trying to keep the studio afloat was difficult, and the process came with its fair share of hard lessons and costly mistakes.

We have come through a lot of struggles, and I am still learning every step of the way. The journey has not been easy, and there have been moments when it felt overwhelming, but each challenge has taught us something valuable about resilience, patience, and growth. For now, we’ve managed to pull ourselves out of some very dark holes—places where it was hard to see any way forward—and we have slowly started to get things back on track. It’s not perfect and there is still work to do, but I’m genuinely grateful for how far we’ve come and for the strength, support, and small victories that have helped us reach this point.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My current body of work is called *Stains and Relics*, a project that is very close to my heart. It recently had the honor of being shown at the Contemporary Arts Center, and it is now traveling to Miami, Florida, where it will be exhibited at MoCAA throughout the month of May. I feel incredibly grateful that this work is continuing to find new spaces and new audiences, and I’m excited to see how it resonates in a different city and cultural environment.

*Stains and Relics* is a multidisciplinary project that brings together printmaking, ceramics, and installation-based work. Each medium plays an important role, contributing its own texture, history, and visual language to the overall experience of the exhibition. Screen printing, in particular, is central to my process. It serves as both a technical foundation and a creative framework, allowing me to layer images, patterns, and colors in ways that tie the different elements of the work together.

A big part of this project involves experimenting with new materials and techniques—pushing beyond what I already know and allowing curiosity to guide the process. This spirit of exploration is deeply connected to DIY printing traditions, where resourcefulness, improvisation, and hands-on problem-solving are key. That connection to DIY culture keeps the work grounded and personal, even as it grows and moves into more formal institutional spaces.

I also feel fortunate to be able to do this work in a professional studio environment. Having access to high-quality equipment and technical support gives me the opportunity to refine my skills, test new ideas, and elevate the craftsmanship of the final pieces. At the same time, everything I learn in the studio feeds back into my personal practice, helping me develop new approaches, deepen my understanding of the materials, and continue evolving *Stains and Relics* in thoughtful and meaningful ways

I’m not entirely sure if it makes me fundamentally different from anyone else, but I do know that my passion for art and for the creative process itself places me in a distinct category. It’s not just about producing a finished piece; it’s about caring deeply for every step along the way—experimenting, refining, and discovering new approaches. That ongoing commitment to growth, to asking questions, and to pushing myself beyond what I already know is what I truly believe makes me better. It’s the continuous learning, the willingness to evolve, and the appreciation for each stage of development that shape who I am and how I create.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
If you own a small business, you’re absolutely a risk-taker, LOL. Every single day you’re stepping into uncertainty. Everything you do carries some level of risk: there’s no steady paycheck guaranteed, no built-in financial security, and every decision can feel like it’s under a microscope. Your work is constantly being evaluated, sometimes criticized, and there’s never a promise that your client will love what you’ve created—even when you’ve poured your heart into it.

In many ways, it feels like Life 101 all over again, where you’re learning as you go, making mistakes, adjusting, and trying to stay grounded while everything around you keeps shifting. But that’s also where growth happens. Risk forces you to stretch, to get creative, and to discover what you’re really capable of.

All I can say is this: remember to breathe. Pause when things feel overwhelming, and don’t try to solve everything at once. Take one step at a time, one decision at a time, one problem at a time. If you keep moving forward, even slowly, you will work your way through the challenges, the setbacks, and the rough situations that come with taking risks. And along the way, you’ll gain experience, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for what you’re building.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.diyprintingshop.com/
• Instagram: @diyprinting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diyprintingcincy/