Val Lucas - Bowerbox Press
@bowerbox.com
Letterpress nerd, fledgling typefoundry, cats. Also probably mushrooms.
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
Blackbird Letterpress has some of my favorite patches, and awesome fun-shaped letterpress cards. Go support a small shop!
Shop SMALL weekend is here! FRi-MON 25 % off cards on the cards page https://www.blackbirdletterpress.com/cards-1 thru Monday! Select items marked down throughout our online shop. Free sticker with every order fri & sat.
Choose to spend your dollars with small businesses this year.
Choose to spend your dollars with small businesses this year.
November 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Blackbird Letterpress has some of my favorite patches, and awesome fun-shaped letterpress cards. Go support a small shop!
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Have you had a squid fact or an eel calendar yet?
Happy consumerism bonanza day!
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Support Skype a Scientist with the Squid Facts shop!
The Squid Facts shop supports Skype a Scientist! We match scientists with classrooms, scout troops, and libraries. We also connect people with...
SquidFacts.net
November 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Have you had a squid fact or an eel calendar yet?
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
November 14, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
I see a giant Z in the sky
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I see a giant Z in the sky
A great gift idea for the type nerds in your life (but I already have a copy)
I offer inscribed/signed and giftwrapped copies of my book Six Centuries of Type & Printing if you have a discriminating and hard-to-shop-for typophile or designer in your life! sixcent.info
October 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
A great gift idea for the type nerds in your life (but I already have a copy)
It's #nationalblackcatday? Perfect timing for these cards. Void-inspired and void-approved. I made this woodcut based on Lady Batman, our first foster fail. www.bowerbox.com/product/blac...
Black Cat Notecards
Letterpress printed notecards, featuring a woodcut of a black cat (inspired by our own little feline void, Lady Batman.) Printed in dark...
www.bowerbox.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It's #nationalblackcatday? Perfect timing for these cards. Void-inspired and void-approved. I made this woodcut based on Lady Batman, our first foster fail. www.bowerbox.com/product/blac...
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
October 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
October 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
October 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
A most helpful beast.
October 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
A most helpful beast.
It was over 80°F on Monday- and now we have a frost warning. Guess I'll have to cover up the Indigo tonight.
October 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
It was over 80°F on Monday- and now we have a frost warning. Guess I'll have to cover up the Indigo tonight.
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
October 3, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
Since January I’ve been printing a monthly protest poster utilizing and documenting the wood type in my collection. The barrage of news is unrelenting, but for August I wanted to focus on the continuing and horrifying genocide in Gaza.
September 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
September 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress
I engraved and cast these for Jen over the summer- such a fun project! #typecasting
The Type High Prize mails out to all Print Club members that’ve been in the Club for a whole year (starting in September) to celebrate Type High Day (9/18). These ornaments were designed by me and cast by @bowerbox.com. Super grateful to all the PC members that keep the studio going!
September 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I engraved and cast these for Jen over the summer- such a fun project! #typecasting
Flu shot achieved. Feeling protected for the fall and winter (I'll get the new covid shot in 6 months if I can, I got the old one 3 weeks ago)
September 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Flu shot achieved. Feeling protected for the fall and winter (I'll get the new covid shot in 6 months if I can, I got the old one 3 weeks ago)
Reposted by Val Lucas - Bowerbox Press
I finally did it… the gorgeous Amanita border from @bowerbox.com that I’ve been sitting on for over a year was put to use last night. One of the things that made me take a bit longer was the whole mushroom murderer thing, but why should she spoil mushrooms for everyone?
September 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I finally did it… the gorgeous Amanita border from @bowerbox.com that I’ve been sitting on for over a year was put to use last night. One of the things that made me take a bit longer was the whole mushroom murderer thing, but why should she spoil mushrooms for everyone?
I made a new print distribution system for the letterpress class. I'm hoping students will get involved and pring their hearts out.
September 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I made a new print distribution system for the letterpress class. I'm hoping students will get involved and pring their hearts out.