My letterpress artbook explores the theme of motion through visual imagery and personal narrative, telling the story of the solo marathon I ran in 2020. Laser-cut lino blocks were used to create the linework imagery, and the color scheme and paper were inspired by the colors of my Saucony running shoes. Titled "First," the book reflects the various firsts of my marathon experience, from running my first full marathon to navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Through exploring the landmarks of the racecourse, my encounter with "the wall," and a photo of me at the finish line, I seek to remind myself that I can do hard things. The back cover features the phrase "your brain quits before your body," a reminder of our untapped strength and resilience.

The Asbern Company was a Danish printing press manufacturer active from 1945 to 1980. Asbern presses are known for their sturdy construction and high-quality printing capabilities. 

Press Bed layout featuring one of my lino cut forms, wood type, metal type, furniture, a coin, and stunning periwinkle ink. 

Book Assembly

To maintain consistent quality in my artbooks, I printed multiple editions of each page, typically around 6-8 copies. I carefully selected the best ones and assembled them into three accordion-style books. These books are made with durable and versatile scored and glued pages, allowing for easy flipping or fully opening them for display.

Linoleum Forms

To make my linoleum blocks type high, I mounted them onto MDF board and cut the images in reverse for correct printing on the letterpress. I used a laser cutter to transfer my design onto the block and carefully removed the excess linoleum with a lino cut tool, resulting in intricate and high-quality linework for my artist book.