Sergei Besov rookie

How long have you been printing?

About 2008

Describe your first encounter with letterpress

I remember first prints from old linocut cliché and how I was impressed. I was going to buy my first press (something like Krause). But I didn't know how to print. With my friend we asked old printer Adolf Andreevich to show us processes. I was amazed. I didn't expect that such simple tools can make so beautiful prints. Letterpress was a bit later but that was consequence of that first impression.

Where did you learn?

I studied social work and sociology in Moscow

Who was your most influential teacher?

There are many not one. As for my work — our clients and their projects. That's great and endless process of learning.

What super power would you like to have?

Don't want to have any super power. It's too dangerous. I would like to have more time. Feel like I need 2-3 lifes — so many interesting this want to do. But I like my current life very much.

Do you prefer to work alone or with others?

Mostly — alone. But sometimes it's good to work with others for fun and when I can't do a project alone.

What do you most value in your friends?

They make me feel that the world is not so crazy as it seems.

When do your best ideas occur to you?

When I do nothing or go nowhere, feel good, do yoga practice, walking with my family

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

Ha! I would like to be as good looking as Garamond but sure I would be and feel much better as any wood type from our studio

What tool do you use more often than any other?

My body

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Actually I have no nightstand. At home I have time (a little bit) to watch series only. I read books mostly in metro (underground) on the way from home to studio. But in studio there are: "Gutenberg's Apprentice" by Alix Christie in English and in Russian, "Johannes Gutenberg" by Albert Kapr (in Russian), "Bookbinding. Complete Guide to Folding, Sewing & Binding", "Cyrillic Type Travel Book Commented / Type Review by Typejournal". Our studio (Demon Press) is in the process of publishing Alix Christie's novel in Russian. That the reason of my book list.

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

Peter Schöffer

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

We (Demon Press) have Korrex Nurnberg, Korrex Stuttgart, Heidelberg T Platen, Krause, Adana 8×5 and Partisan Press (old soviet times proof press)

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

I'd like to do more workshops for people

When and where are you the happiest?

When I do nothing or spend time with my wife and daughters. Where: at home, in studio, in Haapsalu, Vis island, Porbail and some other places.

What is your greatest fear/worry?

When I don't know why I'm worried

What do you think is useful about what you make?

It’s useful to make my family and the people I work with feel good.

What’s your day job?

Demon Press is my day job

Do you use any other techniques or media besides letterpress?

Yes, all techniques which are possible with our equipment and some more