So how do you get trained in letterpress, particularly those who have emailed me in Orange County? There are indeed pockets of fine letterpress printing but I don’t believe our community is as networked as LA, the Bay area and San Diego. Please correct me if I am wrong! In 2007, I was fortunate enough to connect with the fine folks at the Irvine Fine Arts Center to establish the first community-accessible letterpress studio for classes and renting. Several people have rented the studio for wedding invitations and private projects. At present the wonderfully-capable Katy Metz and Jamie Russom are working on increasing class offerings and open studio times. I’ll keep you posted.

We can’t keep up with the demand as most of the letterpress classes have a waiting list. So here are some options for those of you in OC trying to get into all of this.

1. Take letterpress classes from any of the resources listed here. It is worth the drive and expense to take classes from the experts, including Gerald Lange at Otis and Art Center.

I also recommend a two-class session from Madeleine Zygarewicz at the International Printing Museum. This summer you can take Letterpress 1 and 2 which will give you some basic training in hand-set type and polymer plate printing which I assume most of you will be doing for your businesses.
Info and registration here

Contact gary@printmuseum.org if you have any questions about the classes

Nationally there are incredible classes in letterpress worth the effort. Take classes at New York Center for the Book, San Francisco Center for the Book, Minnesota Center for the Book and many other such locations.

2. You design, somebody else prints.
Just want to design and send it out to get printed? There are many, many expert printers who may be able to take your job. I’ll be compiling a list, for OC soon (send me proven, quality printers you trust in OC). There are tons in LA, and Madeleine also prints jobs:

Panorama Press (Madeleine)

3. I’m not set-up yet, but I may be offering classes, studio time and other letterpress workshops at my studio in Laguna Canyon Artists. It won’t be until August most likely. Also I as an organizer, I have an idea to get a workshop on “how to start your own letterpress business”, or add letterpress to your offerings. I’ll connect with my AIGA contacts and see what resources they offer, but it would be great to have such a workshop/conference here in OC. These are just open thoughts, I have no idea if they will materialize. Depends on time and money.

4. Read-up.
Lots of terrific resources on the web. Scope out briarpress and Five Roses listed on my links page.

Join the Letterpress Listserv and read up their “How to get started” section and more.

Remember, it takes a lot of time to be a seasoned, expert letterpress printer. Do not go into letterpress thinking it will happen overnight. There are many considerations that take a keen eye, a knowledge of fine printing and paper and a respect for the history of the craft.

And finally, if you MUST use the L Letterpress tool, discard the plastic plates which break and scratch easily and use polymer plates as described in detail from Boxcar Press here.

**Get Inspired, come to the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Printers Fair and see what locals, hobbyists, professionals and educators or doing in the field.**

* Armory Arts, Pasadena
* Art Center, Pasadena – Letterpress classes at Art Center College of Design
* International Printing Museum, Carson
* Irvine Fine Arts Center
* Lala Press, Los Angeles – Letterpress instruction and press rental
* Otis Laboratory Press, Los Angeles
* Saddleback College, Mission Viejo – open to the public

And in San Diego you can rent press time at Bay Park Press.

General Book Arts Supplies, Book cloth and Decorative Papers can be found at:

Art Supply Warehouse 6672 Westminster Blvd Westminster, CA 92683 (714) 891-3626. Best prices and fabulous paper section. Been using them for 20 years. Only place to get book binding needles directly (not online). Carries Lineco brand of bookbinding products + awls, tapes, repair tape, white linen thread (no colors), book cloth and more.

Paper Source South Coast Plaza (1st floor of Crystal Court next to Carousel) 3333 Bear St Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 957-8555. Papers, book board, PVA, kits, bone folders and small rolls of colored waxed linen thread are sold here.

Hiromi Paper at Bergamont Station in Santa Monica. Absolutely must go for Asian and International papers and book arts stuff.

Envelopments Gorgeous Papers and Envelopes can be used for a wide-variety of book structures. I’ve also letterpress printed on their stock. Where’s the Party in Costa Mesa carries their line and you can also order through me.

Specific Tools:

AWLS: Art Supply Warehouse (see above) sells heavy and light-duty awls. Or y ou can check the scrapbooking section at Michael’s for any piercing tool. I also heard Joanne’s Fabrics and crafts has some awls. If you don’t have a traditional cradle, remember to use scrap foam core or craft foam to use with your awl. Hiromi Paper sells finer quality awls too.

WAXED LINEN THREAD: For waxed linen thread bulk, order from Royalwood.
If you don’t want to spend a bundle, Paper Source in South Coast Plaza Crystal Court has small quantities for sale.

Online:
Talas in New York = high end fine bookbinding retailer
Daniel Smith now sells PVA glue, bone folders, awls and book board.
Bookmakers Catalog in Maryland. I used to go there to pick up supplies.

Contact me if you know of other resources I should put on this list!