Letterpress Pyrography

Well, I don't think anyone can deny that my blog is varied!!

I have recently been experimenting with pyrography, on scrap wood, and on some wooden spoons. It is taking some getting used to, to control the burning iron, and make it do what I want, but it is enjoyable!

With my Dad's birthday recently, and him running The Silver Birch Press, I decided it was appropriate for him to have a personalised inking roller, and managed to burn the silver birch logo on to the handle! The handle has been pre-varnished, so the fumes were a bit toxic, but the effect is lovely. I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I think I prefer burning images where the lines don't need to be perfect! When my husband saw the finished piece he started looking for things he wanted decorating, so I think I might be busy!

Juniper Press @ The Bluecoat, Liverpool

Last week, I was fortunate enough to visit the newly formed Juniper Press, at The Bluecoat, in Liverpool. It was set up in the last few months by a group of people keen on letterpress, including my father! They actually have quite a few printing presses, but you could say these two Albion presses are the main focus...

Don't they look amazing against those windows?! The natural light in the studio is just fantastic.

Here's some snapshots from the day - you can see even my sketchbook got in on the woodblock action!

If you'd love to experience the studio for yourself, workshops are being offered throughout the year. If you'd like to find out more, comment here and I'll point you in the right direction!

Christmas Cards

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend some more time with my Dad in his printing workshop! We worked on a couple of projects together, including some Christmas cards!

This design was actually inspired by another artist who he had been working with a few weeks earlier. She had been printing without ink, to leave just the impression, and on dark textured card it looked really stunning. My Dad had also experimented printing with varnish, and on the paler card I was using this really brought the lettering out.

I was torn between the typefaces Koch and Locarno, I think I decided on the former, although they are very similar! Simply embossed with varnish on a Vandercook proofing press, on to some beautiful handmade paper. I have then mounted this on a textured cream card, textured matte gold paper and a simple white card.

I find it fascinating that when my Dad worked in letterpress, it was important to produce a clean print with minimum impression, almost so it did not look printed... Nowadays letterpress feels all about adding texture and pushing the paper for a deeper impression, and I think I know why. Computers, laser printers and inkjet printers can churn out perfect image after perfect image - we need the hands on traditional techniques to produce items with character, charm, and an innate uniqueness.

I've also just added a new category over on the right filled with everything printing and letterpress: lino cuts, lino printing, typesetting etc!