Letterpress: Words Once They’ve Been Printed

• Date: 2017
• Media: letterpress on cardstock
• size: 11x17in.

These are photographs of part a series of letterpress prints I made as course work for typography studio. The quote “Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.” is attributed to Carol Burnett—perhaps her intent was not to comment on typesetting or graphic design, but the meaning transferred nicely.

The words I considered most important are presented in large, wood type and interspersed with the rest of the sentence in smaller metal type nested between and around the large forms. The all-capitals “LIFE” is intended to emphasize how words can take on new meanings to others the moment they leave our lips, keys, pens, or press.