Studio Notes #104

Howdy, Folks. Here are this week’s Studio Notes™—quick bits delivered to you each Friday. At the risk of celebrating too much, I realize #104 means this little newsletter started exactly 2 years ago. Let’s keep it going :-)

🔌

Look, I’m not saying I need a 10-foot long USB cable that looks exactly like the classic, chunky, orange extension cord you use for your circular saw...but I might definitely probably maybe want one.

🐠

I love a good documentary (especially one involving salt water) and the latest was 76 Days Adrift. It’s the story of how Steven Callahan survived 76 days in a life raft floating across the Atlantic Ocean in 1982—which itself is fascinating. Steven’s own narration and meticulous memory and documentation of it all made the film stand out. As does the way they visually recreated the events with a dramatic score (apparently by the singer of Fall Out Boy?!). ★★★★☆

✍️

The artwork of Lilith Black Bee is insanely impressive. Tiny, repetitive pen marks that, over time and zoomed out, create something larger. I’m in awe of the discipline and loose precision in these process videos. I love art that you can interpret differently depending on a certain perspective or literal distance from it.

🎸

I don’t do it often enough, but I recently restrung my Fender Jazzmaster, this time with some handmade strings from Gabriel Tenario. I can’t remember where I first heard of this little company, but I’m glad I did. His pure nickel artist series strings do indeed seem fuller, louder, more durable. And hopefully that means not having to change them that often. Also, the multi-color silk wraps are a nice detail. As is the signed packaging! A big fan of these now.

This Week’s Poll

Last week I asked about your favorite classic arcade game, and you overwhelmingly picked my favorite as well. There is something about Galaga that makes is fun to play, repeatedly. Even today.

Typeface O’ the Week

Danmade This Week

This week I fired up the proofing press again, this time letterpressing some 8×10 ampersands from Hubano in Warm Red ink. Limited! And imperfect. Signed and embossed. Grab a print here.

Making a digital font inspired by lettering on an old cigar box and then getting a polymer plate made from the digital file, then printing on actual paper, only to photograph and digitize it again and send to you in an email so that you might purchase it and then I’ll package it up and send it through the mail so you can open it and hold it...well, that journey is kind of wild :-)

I hope this weekend is peaceful and awesome.

Cheers!