Introduction to Letterpress on the Vandercook
Introduction to Letterpress on the Vandercook is a hands-on, beginner-level in-studio workshop led by artist and educator Theresa Esterlund. Participants will learn the fundamentals of letterpress printing with antique lead type on a Vandercook flatbed cylinder press, from setting type and operating the press to cleaning it afterward. Each student will compose a few lines of their own text and produce a small edition of approximately 10–15 prints.
Esterlund is an Arlington, Virginia–based artist and educator who formerly worked in museum education. Her artistic practice includes collage, abstract landscapes, stationery, mindfulness, and poetry, and she brings her interest in gathering, sorting, composing, and working with words to the letterpress process.
When: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Showtimes: 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Venue: Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
Format: In-studio workshop
Instructor: Theresa Esterlund
Level: Beginner; no previous experience is necessary.
Activities: Students will set antique lead type, operate and clean a Vandercook press, arrange a simple phrase or saying of their choice, and print a small edition of 10–15 copies.
Tickets: $175.00
Availability: Tickets are no longer available because the class is at capacity. To request a waitlist place, email your name and the class name; the organizers will contact you if a space opens or another session is added.
Registration deadline: August 15, 2026
Materials: Registration includes a $12 materials fee for consumable supplies. Students may bring an apron and clothes that can get inky, a pen and paper for notes, and a few simple ideas for text to print. Aprons will also be available at the studio.
What to wear: Comfortable, closed-toed shoes are recommended because participants will be standing for most of the day. For safety, short sleeves are recommended, and long hair should be tied back.
Policies: The workshop is subject to Pyramid Atlantic Art Center’s in-studio health and safety and cancellation policies.