Arcangela Regis veteran

How long have you been printing?

I started printing with movable types 18 years ago, in 1999.

Describe your first encounter with letterpress

My encounter was towards the end of the ’90s, when our typography teacher brought to class some wood type. We didn’t ink it, but finally I had in my hands, something that was always in the books, it was real. I was caught, it felt so good, so ingenious, a great solution between the tedious technique of preparing originals for the press and the computer.

Where did you learn?

The teacher lent me some of his woodtype and following my knowlege of relief printing I started by myself, with masking tape and a japanese baren.
At the time I had no tools or machinery related to letterpress, I didn’t even know what I was doing I guess, but I went on printing on borrowed woodtype. After a few years, I signed up in school, that had a big workshop, to learn about setting with lead type. And again, I was caught.

Who was your most influential teacher?

I guess the teacher that brought the type to class, Pablo Martín. He had no time for long chats, but he had always a comment or advice, like a seed, that was enough for encourage my own research.

What super power would you like to have?

Wow... let’s travel in time!

Do you prefer to work alone or with others?

Depending on what needs to be done... I like the quietness of working alone as well as the fun of playing with others.

What do you most value in your friends?

Kindness and sense of humor

When do your best ideas occur to you?

When I least expect it

If you were to die and come back as a typeface, which would it be?

Bembo

What tool do you use more often than any other?

Pencil

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Simone De Beauvoir, Les mandarins
Michel Houellebecq, Soumission
Moliere, Theatre anthology

If you could study with any printer throughout history, who would it be?

Wow, another difficult question... There have been so many, that it is difficult to choose between the Venetian printers and the French printers of the Golden Age. So I will stick with someone closer in time, William Morris.

If you have your own shop, what equipment do you own?

A collection of lead type, most from Spain and UK, and wood type from Barcelona, London and Colombia. An Albion iron hand press, a Maber proof press and two little Adanas complete the equipment.

If you could change one thing about your shop, what would it be?

More space for less rent, jajaja

When and where are you the happiest?

When I can play, alone or with others.
In the photography darkroom and in my workshop.
Surrounded by nature, where nothing else seems to matter...

What is your greatest fear/worry?

Glups... Living with fear I guess...

What do you think is useful about what you make?

Keeping alive something that is old but can still be useful and surprising for those who do not know the process. Trying to go beyond letterpress printing and mix all printing techniques. Keep myself alive and happy too.

What’s your day job?

Teaching and printing

Do you use any other techniques or media besides letterpress?

Any technique related with matrices fascinates me, everything analogue, computers too sometimes.