Letterpress: An Introduction  

Register NOW 
School of Visual Arts, New York City

Letterpess is versatile, adaptable, and mixes easily with other printmaking processes. By hand-typesetting vintage metal and wood typefaces, students will gain a broader understanding of typography. The sessions will begin with a demonstration, followed by studio time to work on projects, including type-based graphic designs and fine art limited additions. Previous printmaking experience is not required. Register here.

Letterpress: Variations

Register TODAY   
School of Visual Arts, New York City

This course will concentrate on nontraditional, experimental, and painterly uses of letterpress. Students will explore moiré and interference patterns by shifting type set-ups and using multiple printings. Students will examine the type experiments of avant-garde movements, such as Dada and futurism, and innovative printers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Sessions will begin with demonstrations, followed by studio time to work on self-initiated projects. Previous printmaking experience is not required. Register here.



BOOKS BRUNCH & TEA

Esther K Smith‘s Zoom workshop /retreat 

Books, Brunch, & Tea, a Zoom winter bookmaking retreat across two Saturdays. Workshops on simple books, pop-ups, pamphlets, accordions, stab stitch, and long-stitch will be interspersed with fun, cozy baking and tea-making demos.
Email esther(at)purgatorypiepress(dot)com for more info-- or to arrange a private or small group class.
 

CEREAL BOX BOOKS

Esther K Smith Zoom Class--

Cereal box books are a pop-art, environmentally friendly version of a binding that developed before printing. These multi-signature books open flat for writing and drawing-- great for journals, guestbooks, albums, sketchbooks, collage books, scrap books (and very long zines).

Email esther(at)purgatorypiepress(dot)com for more info-- or to arrange a private or small group class.

Dikko Faust’s SVA Classes


Modular Pattern: Weekend Workshop
Registration  CLOSED
School of Visual Arts, New York City | 

This hands-on workshop will focus on letterpress relief printing techniques. Students will set metal type, type ornaments, found objects, and made pieces. In addition to studio work, students will examine historical works of letterpress art, including vernacular weaving, bricklaying, tiling, and other archaeological and architectural examples. Students will experiments with moiré, interference, shifted and pinwheel prints, ink transparency, and color overlay. The first day will focus on group patterns, while the second day will concentrate on individual projects. All levels are welcome, though some letterpress or relief printmaking experience is helpful. Register here.

Letterpress: Variations 

Registration  CLOSED
School of Visual Arts, New York City 

This course will concentrate on nontraditional, experimental, and painterly uses of letterpress. Students will explore moiré and interference patterns by shifting type set-ups and using multiple printings. Students will examine the type experiments of avant-garde movements, such as Dada and futurism, and innovative printers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Sessions will begin with demonstrations, followed by studio time to work on self-initiated projects. Previous printmaking experience is not required. Register here.

Letterpress: An Introduction  

Registration  CLOSED
School of Visual Arts, New York City 

Letterpess is versatile, adaptable, and mixes easily with other printmaking processes. By hand-typesetting vintage metal and wood typefaces, students will gain a broader understanding of typography. The sessions will begin with a demonstration, followed by studio time to work on projects, including type-based graphic designs and fine art limited additions. Previous printmaking experience is not required. Register here.

Center for Book Arts Classes with Dikko Faust

Type on the Streets: Architectural and Vernacular Signage in New York City (and Beyond)
Center for Book Arts | Saturday, October 23 | 12pm-3pm

Participants will enjoy a one-of-a-kind NYC walking tour highlighting 19th & 20th-century architectural typography on apartment buildings, manhole & vault covers, paint-on-brick advertising signs, and more. Students will have the chance to create their own charcoal rubbings of found typography. The session will conclude with a slideshow and discussion at the CBA. Proof of vaccination is required.
 
Printing T-Shirts on the Washington Press  
Center for Book Arts   Registration  CLOSED

Students will learn about typographic history while printing on t-shirts and other cotton fabric items. Printing wood type with hand rollers on CBA’s R.Hoe & Co Washington Press (made in the Bronx in the late 1800’s)

Vandertricks with Dikko Faust

Registration  CLOSED
Center for Book Arts  

In this workshop on improvisatory letterpress printing, students will study four letterpress techniques: feathering, rainbow rolls, found-object printing, and purgacolor. The course will also cover other aspects of letterpress printing, including onlay, interlay, underlay, color mixing tips, press maintenance, proofing, editioning, managing order, and more. Dikko will display examples of his work from Purgatory Pie Press. Students should have some hand type and letterpress experience. 

Hands-On History of Type: 200 Years of New Things
Center for Book Arts

This series will explore the history of typography from the 1820s to the present using lectures, show-and-tell examples, and demonstrations. Sessions will include: Alphabet History through Type Inventions with Five New Type Forms from the 1820s, Wood Type and Metal Type: Manufacture and Best Use Suggestions, Chromatic Wood and Metal Type, Printing Magazines: 19th through Early 20th Century, Crystal Goblet vs. Dada: Avant Garde vs Classical Reformist Design.

Two Centuries of Wood and Metal Type 1820-2020

Registration  CLOSED

This course will include a survey of the last 200 years of type design, advertising, and graphic popular culture. Type exploded into numerous forms in the 19th century, with many fans and critics along the way.  Constant barrages of new ways to make type, typewriters, keyboard cast type (linotype, monotype, etc.), as well as other innovations aided and abetted the typing boom. A veteran type detective and letterpress printer will lead our investigation from his printshop and archive. Students will undertake and share guided research with the class as we learn about this exciting period for type and type design. Expect diversions into architectural ornament and much more that relate to letter design.



Letterpress Basics

Dikko Faust

A class for all levels.
Letterpress is versatile, adaptable, and mixes easily with other printmaking processes. Through hand typesetting vintage metal and wood typefaces, students will gain a broader understanding of typography. Printing blocks and plates range from completely manual, hand-cut and collaged, to digital photopolymer plates. Accurate color registration is simple and easy. The image can range from hard edge to feathered and painterly, and the relief impression adds a third dimension. Operation and maintenance of different kinds of letterpress is included. Sessions begin with a demonstration followed by studio time to work on projects that range from type-based graphic designs to fine art limited editions. No experience required.

Past Letterpress Classes


Letterpress: An Introduction

Dikko Faust

Letterpress is versatile, adaptable, and mixes easily with other printmaking processes. Through hand typesetting vintage metal and wood typefaces, students will gain a broader understanding of typography. Printing blocks and plates range from completely manual, hand-cut and collaged, to digital photopolymer plates. Accurate color registration is simple and easy. The image can range from hard edge to feathered and painterly, and the relief impression adds a third dimension. Operation and maintenance of different kinds of letterpress is included. Sessions begin with a demonstration followed by studio time to work on projects that range from type-based graphic designs to fine art limited editions. Previous printmaking experience is not required.

Letterpress: Variations

Dikko Faust

This course will concentrate on nontraditional, experimental, and painterly uses of letterpress. Printing from collagraphs and linocut plates offers endless possibilities for image-making and color overprinting. We will explore moiré and interference patterns by shifting type set-ups and the use of multiple printings. We will also look at the type experiments of avant-garde movements, such as Dada and futurism, and innovative printers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Sessions will begin with demonstrations and are followed by studio time to work on self-initiated projects. Previous printmaking experience is not required.

Letterpress:
Modular Pattern weekend workshop

Dikko Faust

This hands-on workshop will focus on letterpress relief printing techniques. Students will be setting metal type, type ornaments, and found and made pieces. In addition to studio work, we will view historical examples of this art form, including archaeological, architectural, vernacular weaving, bricklaying and tiling. We will continue this tradition with modular pieces from the printshop, as well as found and made type-high hardware. Experiments will include moiré, interference, shifted and pinwheel prints, ink transparency and color overlay. The first day focuses on group patterns; the second day concentrates on individual projects.
NOTE: All levels welcome; some letterpress or relief printmaking experience is helpful, but not required.

Mark