Designing with Type Ornaments: A Weekend of Printmaking Play

Designing with Type Ornaments: A Weekend of Printmaking PlayCourse Code: 25FLP002I This two day, in person workshop takes place at CBA on Saturday and Sunday, November 22nd and 23rd, from 11AM to 5PM ET. Saturday, November 22nd, 11AM to 5PM ET Sunday, November 23rd, 11AM to 5PM ET Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on November 16th, at 11: 59pm Eastern Time. About the Workshop: In this fun and hands on weekend workshop, students will explore the visual potential of vintage type ornaments;

Course Code: 25FLP002I

This two-day, in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Saturday and Sunday, November 22nd and 23rd, from 11AM to 5PM ET.

• Saturday, November 22nd, 11AM to 5PM ET
• Sunday, November 23rd, 11AM to 5PM ET

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on November 16th, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

About the Workshop:

In this fun and hands-on weekend workshop, students will explore the visual potential of vintage type ornaments; decorative elements traditionally used in letterpress printing. Drawing from our studio’s unique collection, participants will create their own small blocks made of typographic "sorts" and experiment with modular forms using LEGOs and geometric pieces to build larger compositions.

Along the way, students will learn the fundamentals of printing on a Vandercook Proofing Press, including locking up their formes, inking techniques, registration, and working with color. No prior experience is necessary, this class is perfect for artists, designers, and curious beginners alike.

By the end of the workshop, everyone will leave with a small edition of original layered prints and a deeper understanding of how form, pattern, and color come together through letterpress.

Fun Fact: Roni Gross has been teaching letterpress workshops with Center for Book Arts for over 15 years and often experiments with pushing the boundaries of what can be done on letterpress by incorporating aspects of sculpture, experimentation, and design within her works.

Required Materials:

All materials will be provided by the Center for Book Arts at no additional cost.

About the Instructor

Roni Gross is a book artist whose work is in the collections of The Library of Congress, The Bodleian, Harvard, Yale, and many other public and private collections. She runs Z’roah Press which produces limited edition sculptural books. Gross has been an instructor at Center for Book Arts teaching letterpress technique and much more for a number of years. She also teaches at SUNY Purchase and has taught at Penland and is a recipient of an Anolic Family grant and an LMCC grant. In 2019 she initiated the Book Talk series that continues to feature a diverse range of artists and scholars. 

All images courtesy of the instructor.