Q:how did you get into letter press? thoughts or suggestions for those of us who'd like to tinker with it.
Let’s see how short I can make this long story…
- Went to Endicott College (Beverly, MA) for Graphic Design
- A professor of mine recognized my draw to woodblock-esque typography and all things created by hand and mentioned letterpress once or twice
- Finally found out during my senior year that I could take a course in letterpress at Montserrat College of Art (also in Beverly)
- Focused my senior thesis on letterpress
- After 6-9 months of searching for agency gigs post-graduation, I realized I wasn’t cut out for that environment and started hitting up any printer that would talk to me
- Got in touch with Mike Dacey over at Repeat Press (of Fringe Union fame) and he pointed me toward the internship at the shop I’m working at now.
- After a year of job searching with no luck, I ended up with the gig at The Mandate Press (SLC) in a matter of weeks.
So thoughts/suggestions for people looking to get into it?
- Get to know the people involved with it and prove your interest isn’t something temporary
- Find workshops local to you (a lot of places do Saturday workshops and stuff like that) or take a class- I don’t know what it’s like but I believe MassArt has a program
- Be willing to work for experience. I hate unpaid internships as much as the next guy but little one or two man shops (any shop really) would be foolish to pass up anyone eager to be an extra pair of hands around the shop in the evenings or during weekend hours, expecting only a few tips and some advice in return. If you can find someone willing for that relationship, I have a hard time not seeing them throwing you an hour or two on a press here and there eventually. In a situation like that where you have so much to learn, that’s where I consider a little to no compensation sort of deal to actually be worth it.
For you personally? Hit up your connections through geekhouse. On the surface, bikes and letterpress seem entirely unrelated but there are some very similar principles that are driving independent frame builders, letterpress printers, chocolate makers, craft brewers, and barbers.
Wow, sorry for the ranting, tangent-driven answer but I’m pumped you asked. Best of luck pursuing this, man! Definitely be in touch.
To Dos for the Near Future
- Finish a pet project that I’ve semi-started
- Update gdgraves.com with some projects from my time at University Healthcare
- Read up on some color theory
- Read the Heidelberg Windmill manual
- Keep a journal for my days at the shop to track and motivate my progress (thanks to Dad for the idea)
- Pursue other pet projects
2012
I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions - and I can’t really say why - but there are some things that I do want to make an effort to improve on in the coming year.
- Correspondence
I always seem to read an email and tell myself, I’ll reply later tonight. Of course, I then forget about it for a week. This is nothing personal, I promise… I do it to all of you. In 2012, I’m hoping to do better with this.
Piggybacked on this, I should include my need to keep in better touch with everyone I have left back east. I make too many excuses for myself about there being so many people to try and keep in touch with. All the same, I can send one email or make one phone call each week, right? - Motivation
Being home over the holidays I realized just how lucky I am to have the opportunity that I’ve been given and I want to hold onto that now that I’m back in SLC. Rather than focusing just on each day as it comes I need to keep focused on the long-term goal and track my progress a bit. - Drive
Whether I pick up any freelance projects or not, I always have little ideas for personal projects here and there. I need to pursue those ideas, developing the good and tossing the bad. After (finally) finishing Seth Godin’s Linchpin, I’ve realized that I’m never going to make any progress if I don’t make myself just “ship” some things rather than sitting on them until the someday that never comes. - Hustle
Nothing is gained by consistent laziness or procrastination (an occasional lazy weekend day can be healthy, of course). As exhausted as I can be at the end of a workday, I need to push through that and at least get a little something done each evening. - Comfort
I’ve had some awesome experiences in the past few months and feel like I’ve grown a bit because of them but none of it would have happened if I didn’t step outside of my comfort zone. I need to continue to be willing for that in the new year. - Appreciation
Again, I’ve had some pretty awesome things land in my lap in the past 6-9 months and I want to stay mindful of those things. The days that I remind myself of these things tend to go pretty smoothly and be more upbeat. Besides, our emotions and attitudes affect the people around us.
Letterpress fail… (my apologies)
(via 2012 Letterpress Numbers Vintage by ReneeVintage on Etsy)
2102??? I don’t get it…..?
Source: etsy.com
awesome red wings!
When my moc toe Beans wear out, probably (most likely) going Red Wings. Love Bean but realized my pair were made in China… made in the USA, please!
(via redwingshoes)
Source: GQ
Source: couvertureandthegarbstore.com
perfection…. minus the fact that coffee looks like it may be from starbucks.. if you travel, try as many new things as possible. You look back and you say “I drank a coffee from starbucks at the ocean” some will look and nod with a slight grin… you explain a story of impeccable new findings, you impress and inspire.
That view will be mine… someday. Not so much the specific landscape (seascape rather) but the view of a westy’s dashboard.
Source: fcukingchoke
Scrap Metal Only.
What remains of a large newspaper press is now destined for the scrap yard. Dismantled and unceremoniously laid to rest.
Found in downtown Lafayette, IN.
Trying to pull my stomach back from the depths of my intestines…
Source: baltimoreprints
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