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Introduction to Tabletop Letterpress
January 18 @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
$167.00An In-Studio Workshop!
Saturday, January 18, 10:30am-4:30pm
View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>
About this Workshop:
Learn the basics of letterpress printing with antique lead type on a Chandler & Price Pilot tabletop platen press. Students will learn how to set lead type, operate the tabletop press, troubleshoot, clean, and maintain the press—the perfect foundation for anyone interested in having their own small press at home. Each participant will handset a few lines of text of their own choosing and print a small edition (10-15 prints).
Level: Beginner – no previous experience necessary
Registration extended to January 14, 2025. Material fees are included with your registration to cover the supplies provided in class. Students may need to gather/purchase additional materials for class (see the materials list below). This list will also be provided with the registration confirmation email.
Photos by Jen Sheckels
CLASS MATERIALS LIST:
Registration includes a $10 materials fee to cover consumable materials provided in class. In addition, you may want to bring the following optional items for class:
- (optional) Personal apron (we’ll have extras) or wear clothes that can get inky
- (optional) Pen and paper for taking notes
- Comfortable, closed-toed shoes (you’ll be on your feet most of the day)
- A few ideas for a short phrase/saying you’d like to typeset and print during class
Note: For your safety we also recommend short sleeves only and that long hair be tied back.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Jim Modrick has been active in the letterpress studio for over four years and is an ArtGym member at Pyramid Atlantic. He can also be found in the screenprinting studio as he continues reconnecting with ink on paper. Jim also engages his creative side through drawing and, most recently, in oil painting. As an arts administrator, Jim built a career that combined organizational management with a passion for learning. He explored the role of the arts in education focusing on creativity, leadership, and accessibility. These days he works as a Grants Management Specialist with the National Park Service and, for the past 20 years, Jim has called the Aspen Hill area of Montgomery County home. Follow Jim’s work on Instagram @jemodrick.
“I enjoyed learning about everything from setting type to cleaning the machine.”
—Previous Workshop Participant
“I went from totally uninitiated to producing beautiful art in less than three hours.”
—Previous Workshop Participant