The Journey of a Linocut

We've been working hard here at the Isle, and we've got the goods to prove it!

This is our most recent poster, inspired by our love for cargo bicycles and retro advertising. To the untrained eye, this poster may look amazing. In reality, it's really freaking amazing (I can say this because I didn't carve it, Bryce did), and here's the reason why: the awesome carving process.

What starts as a twinkle in our eyes becomes a sketch, which then becomes a graphite transfer, which is applied to a block of linoleum. The linoleum is then carved and sculpted into one layer, starting with the background. Out of context, one layer doesn't look like much–but once supporting layers are added, it becomes a work of art.

This particular poster was created using the reduction method of carving, where one block is used for multiple layers. In the end, the topmost layer is all that remains of the original cut. Every layer is given a different color, and some colors show through one another to add even more depth.

Here's a line-up of each step of this poster's process:

This poster is on sale in our shop right now, and will be available soon online. Stay tuned for more hand-printed goodness from your friends at I.O.P!

-Girl Friday Röthenhofer

New News

Good new news, everyone! You can stop weeping into your pillows, Isle of Printing is back up and running from our move, like the greasy machine that we are.

We settled into our new place at 624 Ewing about a month ago. While we are still working out some of the kinks and playing Tetris with the type cases, our shop is now open, and so is our storefront (sort of)!

Of course, you can't open a storefront with nothing to sell, so we've been churning out new postery goodness, like this Evening With the Johns poster!

Personally, I think this poster is an extremely bodacious example of letterpress––not only because of Bryce's amazing illustrative SKILLZ, but also because it uses a halftone effect, which is normally a shading style reserved for silkscreening. But, who am I to say? Here's a detail shot so you can see for yourself:

So, in closing, if you wanna know how posters are born, if you want us to be the surrogate birther of the poster in your head, or if you are ready to adopt a poster or t-shirt to fill that void in your life, come on down and see us at ze good ole' I.O.P! 

–Girl Friday Rothenhöfer 

Riddle me this revelry-makers...

What weighs 3500lbs, is covered with 75 years of oil and automatically feeds itself?

Our newest press!

Every year around January 1 millions of people resolve to lose weight and do more with their lives.  We salute you fine (if unoriginal) folks for making that pledge.  But here at the Isle of Printing - we decide to buck the trend by doing less and cumulatively weighing more*!  After all this is the 21st century right?  If a press wants to feed itself paper... why not let it?  If a press decides to print that paper and stack it up in a neat pile...who are we to say no?  We don't hate robots here AND we love letterpresses - so why not plug a press into the wall and do a little jig as it rocks back and forth?

WE SAY YES to the Kluge! (that's Kluge like a lugee - not like fudge or luge)

The Kluge Automatic job press - if you think 1901 is modern - then you will be surprised with what the future has in store for you in letterpress technology! 

Old doc Kluge is not quite ready for duty yet but he's looking pretty good for an old iron beast (and former largess paper weight). 

Many more chapters of this saga are still to come.  Slanderers beware.  Children with curious fingers beware.  Stacks of loose paper beware! 

Rub a dub we are fixing you up!

Happy 2011

H Kneesch

*as a print shop with an auto-feeding letterpress

can't seem to reach us via email?

Things in the internet land are a bit screwy right now. so.....
Try isleofprinting(at)gmail.com if you need to get through!

thanks
MGMT

Last minute shopping for last minute posting preview!

Howdy friends - I hope the season is treating you well -

We've been busy making a few things this fall yet to see the site, but if you see something here that you'd like for a gift etc - let me know and I'll get you setup!

 I'm really excited about the Union Station print. There are only a handful of these available in a few variations.

A quick preview of  some of the pie throw prints

Oh and the Chocolart bars are back in season!!!

Olive and Sinclair Chocolate wrapped with handmade prints

$15 plus the shipping 

Technicolor transmissions

We are always trying new things here in the Isle of Printing color theory lab. Case in point - the new Circa Survive letterpress print.  Here we have 4 colors mixing on the paper to create many more...WHOA wait a go science!!!!!! We are always pleased when something we learned in art school turns out to be useful.

Dredg fans sorry we made your favorite Band so very tiny - design over function sometimes we hate to say. (well really we don't)

Not many extras did we make - signed numbered and limited to 100 prints 16 1/2" x 23"

$35 on the old web-a-saurus 

get yours or get squared 

H Kneesch 

esquire 

This is what you have been waiting for!

Attention loyal patrons and meandering roustabouts within the reaches of our electric beams...

Isle of Printing – INVITES, CAJOLES and CHALLENGES every able bodied man, woman and child of the vaunted and proud city of Nashville and all regions beyond its borders - to participate in our 151st annual OLD FASHIONED PIE THROW! 

In a tradition older than time itself...

SEE the spectacle unfold.  CHALLENGE  your senses and TEST your skills.  

Prizes awarded.  Accurate advice given.  No prior experience necessary!!!

ONE NIGHT ONLY

NOVEMEBR 6^th 2010

Between the hours of 6 and 9 o'clock 

Find us in the historic Downtown Arcade at number 79  – Nashville Tenn.  Betwixt  space/time and 4^th and 5^th Avenues of the Arts - second floor - Blend Studio. 

First come, first served – no early admittance.  $5 dollars cash to participate – gawking and loitering allowed at no charge to you.

Both the public and press are welcome – no spitting allowed.  Anyone with a working accordion and knowledge of its use is also encouraged to attend.

Please send a self addressed stamped envelope to 520 Ash ST. NASHVILLE, TENN 37203 for a list of all current and pertinent rules, regulations and admissible hand signals of the 2010 OLD FASHIONED PIE THROW. All rights reserved – no animals were harmed in the making of this advertisement.

Yours truly 

Hiram Kneesch