Yesterday, I had a letterpress one-on-one session at Studio Two Three, learning the basics (setting type, equipment, supplies, workflow, leading, kerning, cleaning, etc.) and making my first project. I’ve always been interested in the letterpress (only partially down to being a William Morris fan — sidenote: I’ve been reading How I Became A Socialist, the Verso edition edited by Owen Hatherley, and I can’t recommend it enough), and as a screenprinter have long felt eager to expand my printing practice into that realm, but was limited by resources/access. Becoming a member of a communal studio like Studio Two Three, with its gorgeous 19th century letterpress, drawers full of type, and friendly people with applicable expertise, has allowed me to step into and realize this long-time creative wish.
My teacher advised me to pick out some paper and pick out a phrase. “Modern Life Is Rubbish” popped into my head and seemed appropriate for a project printed on a piece of equipment from the late 1800s (it definitely reminded me of Morris, too), and I lucked into this perfect dingy-blue cardstock that fits it 100%, the color of a smoggy London sky. “You’re well-suited to it,” she said, as I made my first couple of prints. I felt that! I love the rhythm of the steps involved in this kind of printing; the feel of the press against the type as the print is made. It felt natural to me, and I can’t wait to do it more.
I’m really grateful and thrilled to be able to offer letterpress prints in addition to screenprinted stuff in my shop now! Turns out petroleum-based ink takes forever to dry, so they aren’t available just yet, but will be very soon with (hopefully) many more to come.
