Thomas Gravemaker veteran

How long have you been printing?

In 1970

Describe your first encounter with letterpress

Meeting three artists, who used printing material to create original pieces of art.

Where did you learn?

In their workshop, later trained in typesetting and printing in a technical school, before going to art school.

Who was your most influential teacher?

Frans de Jong

What super power would you like to have?

Having more time

Do you prefer to work alone or with others?

Both, but over the last few years I've noticed that sharing my knowledge through working together with others gives me a lot of pleasure and satisfaction.

What do you most value in your friends?

Openness.

When do your best ideas occur to you?

Often in the early hours of the morning, before getting out of bed.

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

Tipo Veloz.

What tool do you use more often than any other?

The bodkin.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Carving the Elements, A companion to the Fragments of Parmenides and the biography of Paul Renner.

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

Jost Hochuli.

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

A Vandercook Universal I, A Korrex Stuttgart and a Korrex Hanover. A small, but good selection of metal and wood type. Most of the metal type is newly acquired foundry type.

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

A few more square meters would be nice, and wall space to put more things up.

When and where are you the happiest?

The day I met Christine in Amsterdam.

What is your greatest fear/worry?

Not having enough time to do all the things that I still want to do.

What do you think is useful about what you make?

Showing people what good letterpress is all about.

What’s your day job?

Typographer.

Do you use any other techniques or media besides letterpress?

I sometimes get things laser cut or made with a CRC router. I work with the computer.