Community Etching Press

We are pleased to offer time on our etching press to artists in our community. Intaglio printmaking is one of the oldest forms of printmaking. This press enables artists to create stunning hand crafted prints each of which is a unique work of art.

When Smithsonian Magazine picked Truth or Consequences as one of the 15 best small towns in the USA in 2025, they wrote about the art on our walls and this press.

Why a community press

A printmaking studio is one of the oldest dreams we have for this place. Back in 2017, when we were still SEBA, a small DIY grant from Meow Wolf bought us a letterpress at a local auction. By the next winter we were teaching printing workshops, “open to the public and trials for much bigger ambitions,” as we put it at the time, and the long-run goal we wrote into the grant application was “the foundation of a printmaking studio.” This is that studio.

When we bought 312 Main in 2023 we wrote down what we wanted the building to be, a place with “ample space and access to all of the requisite tools” that we could share with local artists and use to draw in artists from afar. A press is that idea in its plainest form. Hardly anyone can own one, they weigh a ton and cost a fortune, but anyone can learn to use one, and one good press shared by a town can turn a lot of people who draw into printmakers.

What drypoint is

A plate is scratched with a sharp point to create lines into which ink is rubbed. The press is used to create a huge amount of pressure forcing thick, soft and wet paper into the lines, transferring the image. The whole process feels like a magic trick and must have felt as such in the 15th century when the process was invented. The prints are then dried and pressed flat, and any color is added afterwards by hand with a brush.

The scratched lines are fragile and the press slowly crushes them, so a drypoint plate only gives a few dozen good prints before it is worn out. That is why the editions are small.

Press Usage

All artists must participate in a 2 hour orientation program. The first hour is used to familiarize you with our space, where things are and what is expected of you to use the space. The second hour of the program is a hands on printing session guided by one of our staff members, at the end of which each artist will be allowed to work on the press by themselves.

We have weekly open printing sessions, usually on Saturdays 11–1 and 2–4. Up to six artists can work during each two hour printing block. Artists booking both the early and late printing session can print all day, roughly five hours total.

On weekdays private press time can be booked based on availability. Private classes are available.

Open sessions pause while we are out on our summer Fieldwork. If you are planning a trip around the press, email us ahead and we will make sure it happens.

Pricing

Our prices are as cheap as possible to cover our costs and time to run the space. We also offer a Printer’s Proofs program which helps artists offset costs on the press through giving prints of their art to sell.

Ink

Only water soluble inks are used in the studio. We provide black ink with use of the press. Other colors are often available, please talk to us about current options, or to recommend more colors to stock.

Artists are invited to bring their own inks but it must be Akua Intaglio Ink unless pre-approved by us. The Akua inks are wonderful, easy to work with, and very easy to clean. We recommend them for most users.

We are willing to work with advanced users who would like to use specific inks but we need to talk about this first in order to keep the studio clean and safe.

Material Pricing

We offer all basic printmaking materials needed to produce dry point intaglio prints.

Printer’s Proofs

In order to offset the costs of using the press we will trade time on the press for prints from artists, which we then sell through our Printer’s Proofs editions. This is a needs based program, please talk to us and we will work out a way to get you printing that works for both of us.

We have always worked this way. In the SEBA years we wrote that we survived on “hard work, self resilience, and a supporting community of friends that help each other and barter as a way to survive.” Printer’s Proofs is the same idea with a name on it. If money is what stands between you and the press, bring prints instead.

The bindery

The other half of the shop is a working letterpress and bindery. There is a Vandercook 325G proof press, which came in on a forklift and then rolled the last stretch Egyptian style on one inch pipes, and it is not going anywhere now. There is also a small tabletop jobbing press, a Kensol foil stamper for spine labels, a cast iron board shear, a guillotine cutter, nipping presses and cases of metal type. This is the equipment behind Agile Meteor Press, and the special editions are bound here by hand with help from our community volunteers.

We taught our first letterpress workshops in 2018 and there are more to come. If you want to learn to set type or sew a book, get in touch.

Book a session

Email intentionallyconfusing@gmail.com to schedule an orientation or reserve press time.