Slow & Steady

A brief introduction to me, my work, and what I hope to offer to readers like you.

I have consistently been a late bloomer.

Whether it is just my personality, or maybe it’s perfectionism, or I’m too easily distracted, or possibly anxiety, or my location, or just not being quite as good as others … it just always seems to take me a little longer to find my way.

But, hopefully, not all who wander are lost.

I’ve tried and failed at a LOT of things.

I think every stage has brought me closer to finding my way.
It seems like with each change of the seasons I was a little bit faster at getting traction and some measure of success.

It wasn’t until 2020 that things took a turn. Ironically, through one of the larger failings in my professional life.

I was unceremoniously let go from what I thought was my forever career. A career I felt like I had finally found my stride in. It was something I was good at, was fulfilling, and seemed to make the world a little bit better.

And it was all gone. And it left me in a job search in one of the worst possible moments in recent history.

Out of time and hope I made one more attempt in what seemed like the 11th hour to stay in a creative field. It was this end-of-my-rope moment that gave me the bravery to think outside the box and give it my all.

I made a giant hand carved, hand inked, and hand pressed print.
Something I had never done before.
Without a clue of what I was doing, I posted it on Instagram.

$250 each.
Somehow, miraciously, they sold.
Not many, but enough.

And a small flame of hope was lit.

Now, almost 5 years later I’ve decided to revisit the same phrase.
This time, crafted far better and with far more expertise.

This phrase has been the continual thread throughout all my failings.
MAKE SOMETHING GREAT.

My story is not unique. And my small fine-art design practice won’t go down in the history books. But, for the duration of this journey, I hope to pass on a little of my enthusiasm.

There are so many great things happening in small, quiet spaces to be recognized and celebrated:
Typography choices,
Paper usage,
Ink Color,
Design History,
And most importantly, the little interactions between artists and audience, creators and clients.

So that’s what I plan to offer here.
A little design and a little joy, in the best ways that I can.

I hope you’ll join me and together we can learn to see and celebrate the small details in design, all centered around my small garage studio practice in letterpress design & printing.

-Daniel