Join us for a two day crash-course in letterpress printing!

There are no available registration dates at this time.

Artwork by Richard Reitz Smith

Letterpress printing is a centuries old technique, in which images and text can be re-produced by the repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against paper. In this busy, 2-day workshop, students will learn how to set type, operate the press, and how to create a one and two color print. Mini-lectures on the history of the printing press, the basics of graphic design, and art historical context will be sprinkled in throughout this skill-based course.

2-Day Letterpress Basics is perfect for absolute beginners who have never touched type or those looking for a refresher. Students will use the two Vandercook Universal presses, one automated and one mechanical, in the Maine Media Book Arts Studio to create one color and two color hand-set prints.

Lunch each day is included. Lodging is available on campus $75/night, private room & bath.

This class is limited to 8 students.

Image Credit:  Devin Altobello

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Instructor: Richard Reitz Smith

Richard Reitz Smith is a letterpress and book artist who excels in marrying traditional techniques with technology and is the Book Arts Program Chair and Studio Manager at Maine Media. He is the owner of DoubleDoor Creative in Camden, ME. In 2015, Richard was the first Book Artist in Residence at Maine Media where he wrote, illustrated, printed, and bound a limited-edition abecedary of alliterative haiku. Richard received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in painting and illustration.

After working for three years developing products for Crayola and Liquitex, he returned to school and earned an MFA in graphic design (Tyler School of Art- Temple University). Then started a five-year tour of universities as an art and design professor which led him to New York City, where he taught at Pratt Institute and School of Visual Arts. While doing this, he freelanced as an illustrator and graphic designer for companies like The GAP, Macy's, American Craft Museum, Metlife, Pearson Education, and Scholastic. Then he took positions at Clicquot, Inc. and Clinique Cosmetics consecutively. For Clinique Cosmetics, he managed multi-million-dollar, international, seasonal product and promotional launches as the director of package design worldwide. For Clicquot, Inc. he was a one-person art department for the wine importer/promoter of Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Bouchard, and many other ultra-premium wines. It was in NYC, that he found and frequented The Center for Book Arts learning much about letterpress and the book as an art form.