Alan Kitching VCUK letterpress workshops

August 2, 2018 Ray Nichols

In late 2000 or early 2001, before our interest in printing slowly and patiently via letterpress, germinated, Bill Deering and I had a group of Visual communications students on the field trip to Ogilvy, an advertising agency in New York City. We had set up to meet with Nigel Kent, Ogilvy’s Director of Typography. Nigel was from London and we were in the process of scheduling our first VCUK trip that summer. We asked if he could suggest anyone outstanding that could talk to our group about typography. Nigel suggested an instructor at the Royal College of Art named Alan Kitching.

72 point Empire metal type

June 30, 2018 Ray Nichols

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This was the first item of Empire type I've seen come up on eBay. With about 5 days to the end of the auction, I figured out the maximum I wanted to pay and set it. If someone went over it, so be it.

Winterthur Museum's "Dining by Design"

June 27, 2018 Ray Nichols

We are working to expand knowledge of our letterpress and bookmaking workshops and have accepted a request to participate in Winterthur Museum’s ‘Teaching Tuesdays.”

Drawing with caulk : printing via letterpress

June 19, 2018 Ray Nichols

We always like working with techniques that have some lack-of-control built into them.

Drexel University, friends, & fathers

June 17, 2018 Ray Nichols

A group of graduate students and friends connected with Drexel University in Philadelphia wanted a field trip and chose a Father's Day Werkman workshop at Lead Graffiti for the experience.

Laboratory Press Projet No. 43 added to collection

June 6, 2018 Ray Nichols

"Projets,” like the one shown here, were student projects we composed of metal type at the Laboratory Press at Carnegie Tech University. The fine press printing program was the first of its kind in the U.S., started in 1922.

FABS was fab

May 18, 2018 Ray Nichols

Ray conducts a page-through of "matching" copies of Electric Fire from the Clouds, a concept book about Benjamin Franklin's historic electrical experiment with a kite. He explains how the text is arranged to be sympathetic to the unique "ink pull" i… — Ray conducts a page-through of "matching" copies of *Electric Fire from the Clouds,* a concept book about Benjamin Franklin's historic electrical experiment with a kite. He explains how the text is arranged to be sympathetic to the unique "ink pull" image appearing on each page.

The Fellowship for American Bibliographic Societies (FABS} is having their annual conference at the University this weekend and today brought a lively group to Lead Graffiti to talk books and to breathe some creative and rarified bookmaking air.

What makes Lead Graffiti so hot?

May 1, 2018 Ray Nichols

At Lead Graffiti we are extremely fortunate to have invested in the purchase of an Intertype C4 linecaster. It adds significantly to the historical value of our collection as well allowing us to offer a first-hand experience with "hot metal" type for participants in some of our workshops.

DCAD's post-Werkman workshop

April 25, 2018 Ray Nichols

LEAD GRAFFITI HAS CONDUCTED a number of workshops with the Delaware College of Art & Design, most often working with professor John Breakey, whose design class has recently taken our H.N. Werkman Creative Letterpress workshop.

William Ibbett? Jack the Ripper?

April 5, 2018 Ray Nichols

A good friend, Casey Smith, was invited to deliver his ideas to the 2018 edition of RipperCon, a biennial conference of all things Jack the Ripper, held in Baltimore, April 7 - 8 and wanted a keepsake to accompany his talk.