Come explore the extensive collection of lead and wood type, ornaments and cuts in the Cornish letterpress studio. Beginners and enthusiasts alike will benefit from a day in the studio focused on the basics of typesetting and hand-printing, with plenty of time to create a small personal project or two. Get inky and experiment with our collection of historic letterpress printing equipment. Students will create one collaborative print and at least one simple personal project. Instructor Dan D Shafer has helped build the Cornish letterpress studio over the last two decades into a vast library of printing odds and ends that are sure to inspire.

By the end of the workshop, students will have hands-on experience and a solid foundation in both the technical and artistic aspects of letterpress printing, allowing them to incorporate these skills into their broader artistic practice.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Familiarity with the parts and functions of various letterpress machines (e.g., platen presses, cylinder presses).
• Hand-setting type using movable metal or wooden type.
• Applying principles of typography, layout, and design to create visually appealing prints.
• Understanding the aesthetics of letterpress printing and how it differs from digital printing.
• Choosing appropriate paper types for different projects.