I work in an advertising agency and have been in design and illustration for 12 years. Last year my husband and I bought a 10×15 Heidelberg Windmill and have been working through printing letterpress illustration prints of our artwork . I know how to print and how to use the machine, clean and maintain it, but I was really keen to learn how to print WELL. I’m keen to learn the nuances of impression, double sided printing, registration and mixing inks etc.  Currently, I order in Lettra and other specialty paper, have the boxcar setup with photopolymer plates made locally and use the Van Sons inks.

I have been trying to get some help and tuition in New Zealand, but it’s very limited and unfortunately there is a bit of negativity from some of the older printers about a woman wanting to use a machine. I’m looking for a day or 2 where I can pay someone to teach me one on one specific areas in which I’m lacking knowledge so that I can grow my skill set. I understand it is not easy to find Windmill tuition and some of the things I’m keen to learn translate to other/manual machines also.

I am looking to travel to New York City / California in October this year –  and I was hoping to take some classes or one-on-one tuition to hone my skills and learn.

I am not looking to be a full scale Printshop, more interested in doing well crafted, boutique and limited edition work/illustrations in the future. Illustration is my passion and I have been combining digital prints of my illustrations with letterpress – but would like to further my skills in merging printing techniques – or producing full letterpress illustrations in multiple colours.
 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Alaina