Maybe it was the promise of pizza and beer that lured seven design professionals to the AIGA Houston’s newly launched An Evening of Letterpress: Professionals workshop on June 14th. However, the event, hosted by Workhorse Printmakers, so deeply immersed attendees in the production and beauty of letterpress, the provisions went almost unnoticed.

An Evening of Letterpress

An Evening of Letterpress

By 6pm, everyone was itching to begin, eagerly following Jennifer Blanco and John Earles—owners of Workhorse—around the open, loft-like studio as they explained each press and digital-to-print design techniques. A few hands shot up with questions, or ran along the press cylinders and cranks, soaking up as much letterpress knowledge as possible before their turn to run the machines. After the tour, armed with a lecture on letterpress history and design, a brief printing technique introduction, and assistance from the Workhorse team, everyone set to work. With three hours set aside for printing, everyone relished toiling late into the night creating custom designs from wood and lead type, pressing them with brightly colored ink into posters, gift cards, and coasters.

Locking up

Jennifer Blanco explaining art conversion for platemaking

Daniela Fishburn

A special thanks to Mohawk Paper for generously donating their Supefine Cover stock which helped fill the goodie bags each participant took home. The bags, offered as both a tote for the attendee’s prints and swag bag, included posters and small notebooks from Workhorse, along with a snapshot of each person and one of their prints.

smiling faces!

Split fountain wood type print- Marisa Avelar

Lily Trussell

Josh Higgins' swag bag!

The next section of An Evening of Letterpress: Students will be held Thursday, June 21st. Information and signup available on the AIGA Houston events page.

About our Guest Blogger:

Chelsea Thomas is a copy writing intern at Spindletop Design. She received her BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College.