Letterpress I

Letterpress ICourse Code: 26MLP100I This five week, in person workshop takes place at CBA on Mondays, June 1st 29th, from 6PM to 9PM ET. Monday, June 1st, from 6PM to 9PM ET Monday, June 8th, from 6PM to 9PM ET Monday, June 15th, from 6PM to 9PM ET Monday, June 22nd, from 6PM to 9PM ET Monday, June 29th, from 6PM to 9PM ET Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on May 24th, 2026 at 11: 59 pm. About the Workshop: This in person class at Center for Book

Course Code: 26MLP100I

This five-week, in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Mondays, June 1st - 29th, from 6PM to 9PM ET.

• Monday, June 1st, from 6PM to 9PM ET
• Monday, June 8th, from 6PM to 9PM ET 
• Monday, June 15th, from 6PM to 9PM ET
• Monday, June 22nd, from 6PM to 9PM ET
• Monday, June 29th, from 6PM to 9PM ET 
  

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on May 24th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

About the Workshop:

This in-person class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Sarah Nicholls.

Letterpress is one of the oldest forms of printmaking and it is a versatile asset to the book artist in the production of editions, text, images, and more. In this workshop, students will learn the basics of how to set up and print on a Vandercook press, and how to properly clean up and maintain the press for consistent results. Students will learn the essentials of letterpress printing including lockup, packing, inking, registration, impression, paper selection, troubleshooting, and cleanup. This workshop is ideal for artists, aspiring publishers, and anyone who wants to get their hands dirty with a little history and fun. This workshop prepares the student for the next course in CBA’s letterpress learning track, Intro to Typography on Press (Letterpress 2). 

Required Materials:

• Pencil and paper for taking notes
• Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get stained or dirty (CBA will provide aprons, but the ink used on press can stain)

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

About the Instructor

Sarah Nicholls is an artist, printmaker, and writer whose work combines language, image, visual narrative, and time.

Her ongoing projects on climate change, urban ecology, and the history of science and technology include a series of letterpress pamphlets as well as participatory programs like guided urban/nature walks.

Nicholls’ limited edition artist’s books are in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Columbia University, and Stanford, among others.

Her work has received support from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and the Puffin Foundation, and she has participated in residencies at BRIC House in Brooklyn, the Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, and Guttenberg Arts in New Jersey.

Nicholls teaches letterpress and book arts at Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design in New York City.

All images courtesy of the instructor unless otherwise noted.