10 Books on Printmaking

posted by Anna Chayasatit July 9, 2014

Today we’d like to introduce you to our top 10 books on printmaking. We have put together our most favourite publications covering topics from letterpress, screen print to stencil for you to delve into during this warm season.

In alphabetical order:

Adventures in Letterpress
Brandon Mise / Published by Laurence King
This recently-published hardback is perfect for all design, art and crafts enthusiasts. It features the work of almost 100 presses from across the United States who still attach great importance to this traditional printmaking technique. Despite the advent of digitalisation, this is simply a good way to explore and understand how these printmakers – usually self-employed – work, derive ideas and manage unconventional schedules.
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Impressive: Printmaking, Letterpress and Graphic Design
Robert Klanten (Author, Editor), Hendrik Hellige (Editor) / Published by Gestalten
This publication takes an insightful look at how today’s creatives are rediscovering old printing techniques and crafts. It is a celebration of work produced by contemporary designers/artists who are captivated by the tactile qualities of different ink types, papers and unpredictable results. Apart from a wide selection of invitations, business cards, stationery, posters and other hand-printed material, the book also provides some insight into this old-fashioned techniques used by the featured designers.
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Letterpress Now
Jessica C. White / Published by Lark Books
‘Letterpress Now’ is an excellent choice if you are a newcomer to letterpress. Bound together in this 176-page publication is a comprehensive guide to letterpress, printing processes, typesetting and many other relevant topics for anyone who wants to gain knowledge and skills of letterpress printing. The book also contains 3 large sections of practical DIY projects and it is now an opportunity for you to get your hands on experimental projects and create high quality output, sounds fun right?
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Little Book of Screenprinting
Caspar Williamson / Published by Chronicle Books
In this book, London-based artist, designer and writer Caspar Williamson takes us through a multitude of screen-printed pieces and projects from more than a hundred studios across the globe. What’s more it also includes a concise history of screen printing and an introduction to different print techniques and presses. It may be small in size, but it is certainly packed with everything you need to know about silkscreen.
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Low-Tech Print
Caspar Williamson / Published by Laurence King
Another great book by our good friend Caspar Williamson. This hardback from Laurence King offers a collection of 100 contemporary print showcases produced by art practitioners from around the world. Caspar had spent two years working on this book and he had also traveled to all the continents on the list to get to the insight of these printmakers as well as to build bridges between these print fanatics, making the book a representation of worldwide printmaking cultures.
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Print Liberation
Nick Paparone and Jamie Dillon with Luren Jenison / Published by North Light Books
A pioneering publication of screen printing. This is a complete, how-to guide that walks you through every screen-printing tips and techniques. With advices like how to turn screen-printing into business, or how to sell your work through galleries and/or shops, this publication is absolutely great for anyone who wants to get their hands on a screen and learn thorough printing basics.
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Print Workshop
Christine Schmidt / Published by Potter Craft
Print Workshop weaves together an awe-inspiring list of practical information and fun projects for you to enjoy printmaking at home. From custom stamp, carving, stencilling, cyanotype and screen printing as well as image transferring techniques, this book is truly a celebration of beauty in imperfection – found and interpreted in printmaking.
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Pulled: A Catalog of Screen Printing
Mike Perry / Published by Princeton Architectural Press
In this paperback, Brooklyn-based designer and illustrator Mike Perry has brought together a wide array of work created by a contemporary generation of today’s most talented designers, artists, makers, studios and creators. You will fall in love with the craft side of the printmaking process and the charm of the overall publication which is jam-packed with beautifully illustrated pictures and funky typography. It is highly original and inspirational – our director Marcroy Smith is also featured in this book. Fantastic!
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Warp and Weft: Poster Construction by Sonnenzimmer
Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi (Authors and Publishers)
Chicago-based studio Sonnenzimmer of Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi have come up with this brilliant, prominent publication analysing 40 posters through the lens of project information, connection and composition. This stunning limited edition offers an examination of every poster through an illustrative breakdown on the compositional intention and each edition is also individually signed and numbered – only 600 printed. Amazing stuff!
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Yellow Owl’s Little Prints
Christine Schmidt / Published by Potter Craft
This book is an assortment of printmaking techniques – from stencilling, printing, image transferring to creating personalised toys, decorations and wall art. Christine offers a range of projects that do not require a lot of equipments and are easy to make at home. It is fun and is such a practical guidance for anyone who wants to spend quality time with their family and friends. People say don’t judge a book by its cover, but I think this one is an exception.
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