Today we printed up some sample t-shirts for our upcoming t-shirt printing workshop, using a limited colour palette and small hand carved linoleum blocks. I did the triangles design on the white shirt, and my co-op student Aiyana did the blue shirt with the fun bird character.
Today we had another student drop by to make some paper relief monoprints. She used a combination of die cut paper designs and hand cut pieces to come up with some lovely layers. Here are just a few of her prints:
My co-op student Aiyana got involved too, and made her first monoprint:
Today a student came into the studio and printed a little set of these sweet thank you cards using our gorgeous 24-pt shadow typeface. Blind embossing on Crane’s Lettra letterpress paper.
Hey everybody! I am so excited to finally get to share this with you. Beginning in March 2016, we will be offering a membership programme at the studio! We’ll be accepting just a small number of members to start out, with hopes of expanding as we carry out our wish list of studio upgrades. In our first (almost) year in Walkerville, we’ve had so many great supporters coming in and taking multiple classes, taking private instruction, and renting use of the studio, and becoming a member will make all that easier and more affordable. And you’ll get to be a part of something really fun!
Here’s how it works: you can sign up for a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month membership, whichever works best for you. Membership is $25 per month, and for that you will get:
-two hours of studio rental or one hour of private instruction time free each month
-20% off the cost of all additional studio or private instruction time beyond your monthly free allotment
-20% off supplies and materials purchased from the studio
-50% off registration for group classes (no limits!)
-space to store your supplies and equipment in our studio instead of lugging it all back and forth
-the opportunity to piggyback on studio supply orders
Your studio time allows you access to and use of:
-letterpress equipment and type
-Nolan proof press
-Adana platen press
-intaglio press
-Chandler and Price paper trimmer
-woodcut tools
-bindery equipment and tools
-screen coating darkroom
-exposure table and washout facility
-screen printing table
-wood shop (table saw, mitre saw, drill press, jigsaw, sander)
To make the membership more awesome, we’re working on some major studio upgrades including: reorganizing the basement to have more functional (and separate) wood shop and screen preparation areas; constructing screen storage and cubbies for member use; building new, larger inking surfaces for relief and intaglio printing; setting up a dedicated screenprinting station; installing a better washout area for screens; purchasing a multi-colour t-shirt printing press.
And! Anyone who signs up for a 12-month membership between now and May 30th will be eligible to take part in a group show of our members, scheduled for the week of May 28-June 4 2017 at the Artspeak Gallery (Arts Council Windsor & Region). The show is already booked and Levigator Press is covering the gallery rental, so all you have to do is come to the studio and make some amazing work!
There aren’t a lot of spots available, so if you’re interested or want to learn more, give the studio a call!
This tricky lockup is the beginning of some new letterpress posters. It takes a good deal of time, and trial and error, to get these curved shapes locked in tightly, but the results are always pretty satisfying.
As so often happens after a printing session, I got hit with a case of “what else can I print this on?” fever, so used up what ink was left to make a small run of simple, fun cards:
This morning we had the students from Victor Romao’s Advanced Printmaking class from the School of Creative Arts, University of Windsor into the studio to set and print a collaborative broadside. It was a fun and energetic group of students and they made some great prints! Thanks Victor for bringing them out.
Today I did the drawing on some new collaborative pottery pieces I’m making with The Pottery Cupboard. Our prototype bowls and cups have been pretty well received, and we’re expanding into serving trays next. Once these are dry I’ll put in the underglaze colour and send them back to Dayna to be fired. This is a little out of my comfort area, and so much fun!
Our friend Nicole Drouillard of Mercantile 519 visited the studio today to do a bit of letterpress printing. She’s getting ready to move to Michigan, and wanted to print up some postcards to send out to notify friends of her change of address. She made this simple print in blue and silver on four different colours of bright card stock, with tiny maple leaf and star ornaments to signify her move from Canada to the United States. Thanks Nicole!
It’s been a quiet week in the studio but I got to give an impromptu midday bookbinding lesson today. Thanks Bev!
Our friend Jennie was in the studio today pulling some first proofs from a series of adorable hipster animal linocuts she’s been working on. There are many more in the works, but you’re going to have to wait a bit to see them. But trust us, they are SO GOOD.