Well, I haven’t really spent any time trying to identify these letterpress wood fonts. I just picked them up last weekend. It is always cool to see the wear and tear of a well used old wood font. Guess that’s what gives it character, couldn’t resist the pun.

Picked up this Copper Faced Printing Block of an old printing press. Does anyone have an idea of what type of press we’re looking at? Block measures 2.75 x 4.25.

I’m a proud new owner of an old Hamilton Manufacturing Font Case. The drawers are sectioned in two, not California Job Cases. For me this is a good thing, because I hope to fill it with wood display type. This is a must have for any little print studio. Now I just need to get an old Chandler & Price letterpress.

I’ve always like Hatch Show Prints, “Triple Johnny Poster.” Multiple impressions of a letterpress halftone of Johnny Cash just works. I know I can create something in Photoshop, but it’s just not the same. But for now it’s all I have. So I found a 1928 newspaper image of my Grandfather and I’ll use it for my halftone. It’s prefect because the original dots hold up when scanned. Fake some textures and here we have my “Triple Gene Poster” for BaseballBlues.com

This texture was found in the kitchen. When I saw it I said, “I need to scan that.” My wife exclaimed, “You’re kidding me.” She knew I wasn’t. I love textures, and I’m always looking for examples to use in my designs. It’s not everyday I get to use rough organic textures in my work. Most of the time I use them in my personal projects. Can anyone guess how this was created? I’ll give you a hint. Trader Joe’s Frozen Croisassants on parchment paper.
 

I was going through some old work yesterday and this old bike logo popped off a board. Any designer who’s been around know what I’m talking about. It was an old stat, and the rubber cement had dried. I think I did this logo as part of an idea I was pitching a local bike shop, circa 1985. So I wanted to have some fun with it.

I feel like a little kid. Like when Christmas was around the corner. You remember those days? You asked Santa for something cool and you just didn’t want to wait. That’s how I feel today. Our Art Director just said to me, “have you seen the Wacom Inkling video?” I’ve always wanted a Wacom Interactive display. Just out of my price range. But at $199 the Inkling could be the thing to get me doodling again. But for now I’ll be drooling.

Years ago I saw Hatch Posters at a museum exhibit up in Seattle. If you’re a graphic designer you have to love this stuff. If not, you should at least appreciate what they are doing. I wouldn’t call myself a purist, but this tugs at my inner being as a designer.I can almost smell the inks. This is like comfort food to me. In the video, Jim Sherraden talks about the Monoprints coming from “Happy accidents” I get goose bumps. I’ve always loved the make-ready pile at print shops. Here Jim has taken it to a the level of art.