modern day letterpress: beyond gutenburg
October 10, 2011 | 5 comments
I was approached nearly a year ago to be a part of a modern- day letterpress article in the October issue of American Lifestyle Magazine. A lot has changed since the interview, but I was very honored to be in the company of EM Letterpress and Studio on Fire. They are true letterpress masters.
If you’d rather not read through the transcript, you can download of the full article here: American Lifestyle article.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LETTERPRESS PRINTING AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Letterpress printing was developed centuries ago as a means of creation for the masses. Very simply put, raised metal or wood type is inked and then pressed into a substrate. Originally, pressmen used only a “kiss” impression- never leaving behind a hint of the impact that occurred between paper and type. There was and is a reason for this: hitting the type too hard would wear it down and destroy it. Now with the ease and accessibility of digital printing, the need for such equipment has vanished. Some continue to use the tools and machinery in the way that they were intended, while others have adapted by using these presses in a new way, trading the “kiss” for a deep impression.
TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AS AN ARTIST:
My family is full of makers: carpenters, writers, builders, sewers, artists, chefs, and musicians. I learned the value of using my hands, and discovered that I was similarly capable. I think that it’s those likenesses and differences that make a family; boy, are we a family!
I went to the Savannah College of Art and Design in the heartbreakingly beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. My college career started off in photography. When I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do, I dabbled in graphic design, sculpture, and printmaking until I ended up in fibers. It was in that program that I learned weaving, dyeing, screen printing, etc., and where I fell in love with surface design. A lot of people go their entire lives without finding that thing- I found it, and it treated me well. Then as I grew and changed, I found it again in letterpress.
FIRST LETTERPRESS EXPERIENCE:
My first letterpress experience actually came from a search on Craigslist. I found a young couple starting up a printing business; they had seen a greeting card that was letterpress printed and fell in love. They rented a space in an old fabric mill in the Port Richmond neighborhood in Philadelphia and began filling it with any equipment they could get their hands on. Letterpress is definitely one of those things that is best learned by doing. Get your hands (and elbows, face, and clothes) absolutely filthy, and run into every problem; make every mistake (a couple of times). It’s the only way to learn.
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB:
My first day, I was introduced to cabinets of type and an eight-by-twelve Chandler and Price old style. The press was one hundred years old. I was awestruck and terrified as I watched it move. They told me to pick a font and set something, anything. Completely on the spot, I walked over to the bookcase and grabbed the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities off of the shelf. The first page I opened showed the nine-banded armadillo. It was perfect. I set it in forty-eight-point Goudy Handtooled, inked up the press with green ink, and away I went. It is framed and sitting on a shelf in my office.
TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS OF LETTERPRESS PRINTING:
Once I have my design (or the client’s design) finalized, I have to make color separations to prepare the files for print. I send the files to an offset shop to have them made into negatives, which I then use to expose the plates in my platemaker. There are five major steps in the platemaking process: pre-exposure, main exposure, washout, drying, and post-exposure. This generally takes twenty to thirty minutes per plate. After the plate is finished, I apply an adhesive sheet to the back and cut it down to size. It is then attached to an aluminum base that is locked up in a chase, which is then ready for the press.
If the job calls for more than one color, the lightest is always printed first in order to speed the cleaning process and to decrease the likelihood of ink contamination. The press is inked up with the appropriate amount of ink for the job. Next, tympan paper is put on the press, and the appropriate amount of packing is added to control the impression. The guides are then set up, and then I am ready to print!
If there is a second color (or third or fourth), the press is cleaned of all ink, the chase comes out of the press, and the plate is changed. The setup process repeats itself.
After the printing is finished, the pieces are either die cut or cut down to size on a paper cutter. I always die cut business cards and tend to die cut thicker stocks as well to avoid any possible issues. After the cutting, each piece is counted, examined for consistency, and then wrapped up!
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC INK OR PAPER THAT YOU PREFER?
As far as paper goes, Crane Lettra is pretty standard around here. It is made from one hundred percent cotton, from fibers discarded by the garment industry that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
I managed to find a large lot of ink from an offset printer closing shop. For smaller jobs that don’t require a large amount of ink, I mix just what I need from a set of Pantone mixing colors. There is much debate about the friendliness of inks, and there is a lot of misinformation out there about which is the “greenest.” I feel confident using ink that would have been thrown away.
TALK ABOUT THE PRESS YOU USE IN THE STUDIO: I have a 1971 Heidelberg Windmill that is my absolute pride and joy. It is most useful for high quantities and tricky ink coverage. I also have a twelve-by-eighteen Chandler and Price that was built in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1907— it was my first press, and being born in the same place, we have a special relationship. Its size makes it great for larger pieces, and it is great for small runs.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LETTERPRESS?
Letterpress has a tangible presence. When I get my hands on a piece that someone else printed, I could literally stare at it for hours. Being a letterpress printer means constant problem solving. I love being challenged to figure things out on my own! All the while, I’m creating beautiful things.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS?
I am inspired by words and National Geographic. I love animals, wallpaper, fabric, and anything old. I am drawn to objects and places with a history. Going to school in Savannah definitely brought that out in me—all of the history and detail in the architecture, the trees, and the cobblestone streets. The things those stones have seen!
Other printers/designers are absolutely an inspiration. Recently I joined Pinterest—a virtual pinboard of anything and everything online that inspires you, and allows you to see the pin boards of other artists/designers. For any creative person, I think that it is incredibly important to immerse yourself in your art. Believe in it. Sleep with it. Paper the walls with it. I’m getting close to papering the walls.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF LETTERPRESS HEADING?
A while back, I handed a friend my three-by-one printed business card. They asked how much it had cost to produce and asked why I chose letterpress. They didn’t understand why I would spend more money on a business card. My response was, “If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn’t understand.” It wasn’t meant to be snobby; it was just the truth. Some people are drawn to letterpress, and some just aren’t. Those that are will keep it alive.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF OUTSIDE OF THE STUDIO:
I am a reader, a doodler, and an avid thrifter. Always covered in ink. Blessed with amazing family and friends, a very sweet dog who is allergic to everything, and a boyfriend who puts up with me. Overall, a very lucky woman. They do say that each person makes their own luck; I believe that putting good and beautiful things out into the world is a way to make it. I can pay my bills, and I’m doing what I love. Life is good.
Download the full issue or request a complimentary copy here.
construction vs. destruction (and a discount)
August 17, 2011 | no comments
The girls of Domestic Construction are at it again. They have plans to save an empty lot next to their studio from becoming another paved space in Brooklyn and want to turn it into an urban garden/community space:
They are almost at $10,000 of their $22,000 goal and need your help!!
Remember their press kits that I posted about a while back? Well they are one of the rewards for supporting the project. Check out their Kickstarter page to see the rest of them and to check out their stop motion video!
In addition to the amazing rewards they are offering to those who donate, I am offering 10% off on your next letterpress order to anyone donating $50 or more, and 15% off to anyone donating over $100. Send me an email after you’ve donated and we’ll get going on your letterpress project!
Go HERE to help them keep Brooklyn green and snag yourself a few gems in the process!
you rule: redefining the ordinary
July 12, 2011 | 3 comments
The girls of Domestic Construction wanted to do something fun for their recent press kit. Have you seen their work, how could they not?
These double sided (and to-scale) rulers were printed in 3 colors on heavy chipboard, while the mouths that eat them were printed on French Paper’s Glo Tone Shocking Green.
(Excuse the poor mouth cutting job on these three, they did it much better than I…)
Here is a peek at the final product (photos courtesy of Domestic Construction- address blurred to protect the innocent):
Their work spans from products, to designing for interiors and events, all to way to urban farming! Visit their site and prepare to be blown away. Redefining the ordinary, indeed…
puerto rico
February 24, 2011 | 1 comment
I went on vacation. It was a few years overdue. Literally. My computer and smartphone had started to feel a lot like extra appendages, and they got a little heavy to carry around.
I saw a rainforest, swam in a bioluminescent bay, snorkeled, visited a tiny island with the bluest water I’ve ever seen. I met the happiest and sweetest beach bum dogs in existence, and stood in awe of how strongly the trees are rooted. Spent hours combing the beach for clues of other lives, and like a child, was amazed at what I found. So amazed, that my bag was 12 pounds heavier on the return flight. You couldn’t have punched the smile off of my face.
Refreshed and relaxed, I happily and gratefully go back to work…
outside the flowerbox with brooklyn bride
August 24, 2010 | no comments
Missy of Missy Photography was kind enough to send me a cd of all of the images she took at the Outside the Flowerbox photoshoot done for Brooklyn Bride. Domestic Construction partnered with Poppies and Posies to create a wedding straight out of the hardware store. I made a few menus and place cards that went along with the theme, and wanted to show a few close ups that you may not have seen in the original post.
Stuart & Welch prepared a beautiful menu for the day and Lovely Bride provided the beautiful dress!
Everyone did an amazing job, can’t wait for the next one!
card observer
April 2, 2010 | 1 comment
This morning my business cards were featured on card observer- a site dedicated to showcasing the latest in business card design and printing. Take a look at a few others that have been featured on the site:
happy st. patrick’s day
March 17, 2010 | 7 comments
No green beer for me today- but I’m okay with that. Instead I worked happily in my office… I feel extremely lucky to have found this building and my current landlords. They have given me free reign to paint walls, rip up carpet, and hang wallpaper and fabric on the walls (you’ll see what I mean when I get around to showing you my studio). These spaces truly feel like mine; I have been able to color and fill them with all of the weird things that I love (snail lamps, owls, silhouettes, bright red pigs). I would never get away with this at my apartment…
The plaid wallpaper has been sitting in the corner of my room for longer than I can remember; it is one of those things that I loved so much I didn’t want to use it. Having just seen a few minutes of the show Hoarders, I scared myself into hanging the wallpaper and then went off to pick out a green paint to match. Then came the chalkboard paint (I love chalkboard paint- it may be my only hope of staying organized.).
This office was an afterthought that I didn’t have until a few months after I moved the presses into my studio. It kept getting more and more crowded, and as soon as I realized I needed more space, this one opened up. Because I didn’t think I needed this space, no money was put aside to decorate it. Luckily, I was able to find nearly everything in the room at thrift stores (cheap and full of character- just the way I like it!) and only spent real money on paint and shelving.
Still a work in progress, but it’s mine.
strumming owl, bear scouts and banjoing beavers
March 3, 2010 | no comments
I just don’t know if there is anything better than this banjo playing beaver. Anything.
The folks at Yeehaw don’t believe in photopolymer plates; they print using only linoleum, wood, or pre-existing type.
I believe in polymer and I clap and yell for it everyday. I am much better with a pen and paper (and Illustrator) than I am with a knife. I tend to cut myself a lot. Whatever works…
Visit Yeehaw on Etsy. Then, when I have my shop updated visit me on Etsy!
die, letterpress!
February 26, 2010 | 3 comments
Using his beautiful beast of a Vandercook, Brooklyn based Stukenborg arranges dice on the bed of his press (in some cases up to 1,147 of them!) in varying patterns and compositions to create these amazing letterpress prints. It is one of those ideas that you see and wonder “Why didn’t I think of this?”- but we all know that it is never that simple…
(via mint)
i’ve loved you a long time.
February 25, 2010 | 5 comments
A few months ago I found myself deep in the hollow that so many fall into during their mid- late twenties (post college, a couple of jobs later; I should have my life figured out, shouldn’t I?!). I started to realize quite a bit, mainly: I was in the wrong place doing the right thing. Now what? After a lot of thinking and worrying, I decided to climb out of the rut (in sort of a big way); thus the official beginning of Cleanwash Letterpress. I am short, and the walls were high; luckily I’ve had a lot of help:
Friends in Cleveland, Savannah, New York, Philadelphia (and wherever else you may have ended up) who have given me your opinion, asked questions, shown enthusiasm…
Domestic Construction and Curious & Company. To anyone reading this, do yourself a favor and keep an eye on them!
My boyfriend Chris who has done much of the high reaching and heavy lifting to get my studio and office in order (most of the time) without complaint. He has been incredibly patient with my impatience over these months- sometimes I forget to tell him that.
Chris, Maureen, Bobby, Billy, Jackie, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins…
My dad who has taught me the value of hard work and honesty; who has been so generous and supportive; who I have recently begun to appreciate even more for his endless experience and advice on life and business.
My mother; wherever she is.
Thank you, thank you to you all:
The past six months of my life have been an exciting and stressful adventure. I am excited for all that is to come. There is a lot to catch up on, photos to take, people and presses to introduce. Stay with me.
