Past, Present & Future

I designed and printed this card as a holiday fundraiser for my favorite place to hang out on Wednesday nights, the fabulous and inspiring 826LA. The non-profit creative writing and tutoring center is supported by a brick-and-mortor and online store, The Time Travel Mart. Past, Present & Future. Cute, right?

Up until this project, I had only printed small editions of art prints and mini-broadsides that incorporate text and linoleum blocks that I cut myself or magnesium engravings of my own design. I really wanted to try a more commercial project and this was perfect. There were so many new experiences--I certainly got the challenge I was looking for! For starters, let me just say, owning a press is very different than going to a class or production studio to print on well maintained equipment (not to mention the encyclopedic knowledge that comes with experience as an owner/teacher). Turns out my adorable (and much loved) (and very very old) C&P Pilot Press is not as spry as she looks. Like any old thing, fixes are not easily (or quickly) come by. Where oh where is the Antique Printing Presses R Us, I want to know!? Just to name a few obstacles, the rails are worn, the roller trucks are not the right size and this particular paper stock was not as happy to meet ink as I had hoped.

Learning the quirks of the press was only one challenge. This was the first time I used the Boxcar system--something the press operator (me) had to get used to. Polymer doesn't ink up in the same way metal type and magnesium plates do. There are other oddities but the system is convenient and inexpensive which makes it a good choice for jobs such as this one. The type is hand set, 36 point Gothic Sans Narrow.

 

At the end of the day, printing this card was a great experience. I learned a lot!! Much more (and faster) than I would have if I had gone about my lazy way printing small editions as I'm want to do. So, thank you 826LA, you've given me a welcome and useful "present" this holiday.