Years ago, my husband built me a shop press to create 3-D pressed tiles back when I was deeply immersed in my pottery studio. It was a wonderful tool then—but like many studio tools, it eventually found its way into storage as my work evolved.
Recently, I decided to give it a second life.
I had the idea to try using the press for printing my lino blocks, and of course, we couldn’t wait to test it. Our first run was outside (in the wind, no less!), which added a bit of challenge—but even so, the results were promising. The pressure was even, the prints were clean, and I could immediately see the potential.
We’ve since moved the press indoors, and I’ve been putting it to work. I’m now using it for multi-block prints and even experimenting with reduction prints—both of which come with their own set of challenges (more on that in my next post!).
What excites me most is how much time it saves and how consistent the results are. Before this, I was burnishing by hand with a spoon, and getting even pressure across the block was always a struggle. Now, the prints come out smooth and balanced, with far less effort.
It’s incredibly satisfying to rediscover a tool and find a completely new purpose for it. This press has officially earned its place in my printmaking studio.
