For the past eight months a stack of these little cards has lived in the front pocket of my bag—sharing cramped quarters with my sketchbook and watercolors, ready whenever anyone asks for my business card. I’ll admit this sucker was originally designed as a promo postcard, but the matching business card (see the blog header up top for the idea) just didn’t have as much chutzpah. So while a gargantuan, six-inch calling card isn’t convenient for most people’s wallets, it gets the job done.

These days, the question I most often hear (besides”Are you completely incapable of making anything a standard size?”—I think the custom framing industry loves me) is “How can this be letterpress?” I’ve launched into so many long-winded explanations of the convoluted process behind this thing that sometimes I bring visual aids with me to art functions. Yes, I’m a nerd. I carry visual aids around.

Ahem. Anyway, I’m working on a series of posts that will detail the making of this piece, step-by-step; look for the first one in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I’ll be putting those visual aids to use in the classroom. If you happen to be a fellow Northwesterner, I’ll be teaching a letterpress class in Seattle next month that combines good old-fashioned line drawing with digital typography, and old-school hand printing with snazzy graphic design software.

Johann Gensfleisch zum Gutenberg is probably rolling in his grave right this minute.

Hmm … well, before I get my cosmic comeuppance from the ghosts of my professional ancestors (I also know how to hand-set type, I promise!), here are the details:

Digital Design Meets Letterpress Printing
Six Mondays, May 4 – June 15, 2009*, 12 – 5 p.m.
School of Visual Concepts, Seattle, WA
For more information, look here or here.
*(no class on Memorial Day, May 25)

There are still a few slots left in the class, so don’t be shy! Let’s give old Herr Gutenberg something to spin about.

* * *

(Republished after the internet gods decided to smite the original into oblivion.)