Val Lucas - Bowerbox Press
@bowerbox.com
Letterpress nerd, fledgling typefoundry, cats. Also probably mushrooms.
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
I'm glad I unpacked the car after the craft show last night, and don't have to drag bins through 4.5" of snow today! It's a picture perfect first snow here in Monkton.
December 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm glad I unpacked the car after the craft show last night, and don't have to drag bins through 4.5" of snow today! It's a picture perfect first snow here in Monkton.
This is what half of my texts look like- all from iPhone users, I think
December 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
This is what half of my texts look like- all from iPhone users, I think
This is Bellflower, my most recent type design. The brass mat is the magic piece: I use a pantograph to engrave the design on the blank mat, then it goes in the casting machine to produce identical pieces of type! You can print with this: www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
December 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This is Bellflower, my most recent type design. The brass mat is the magic piece: I use a pantograph to engrave the design on the blank mat, then it goes in the casting machine to produce identical pieces of type! You can print with this: www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
Looking for gift ideas for that letterpress printer? My brand new type is ONLY available from me, as I designed, engraved, and cast it myself! Order before Dec 15 for holiday shipping. www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Looking for gift ideas for that letterpress printer? My brand new type is ONLY available from me, as I designed, engraved, and cast it myself! Order before Dec 15 for holiday shipping. www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
I printed this for my students (it's their week before finals) but I'm sure some other people need to hear it too. #letterpress
December 7, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I printed this for my students (it's their week before finals) but I'm sure some other people need to hear it too. #letterpress
I got some excellent mushrooms from my two-year old innoculated logs. I did have to bring them inside the print shop as it went from 60 to 20 degrees very quickly but they kept growing inside. Now for dinner! #mushrooms
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I got some excellent mushrooms from my two-year old innoculated logs. I did have to bring them inside the print shop as it went from 60 to 20 degrees very quickly but they kept growing inside. Now for dinner! #mushrooms
Today is a good day to support The Printing Stewards! We are working to preserve and continue the tradition of foundry letterpress type in the US, with the largest collection of Barth casters from ATF, thousands of mats, and literal tons of history. Join the Patreon or donate at printingstewards.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Today is a good day to support The Printing Stewards! We are working to preserve and continue the tradition of foundry letterpress type in the US, with the largest collection of Barth casters from ATF, thousands of mats, and literal tons of history. Join the Patreon or donate at printingstewards.org
Thank you to everyone who has ordered cards, calendars, or artwork the last couple of days. This very tiny business (me) appreciates each and every purchase! Find me at bowerbox.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Thank you to everyone who has ordered cards, calendars, or artwork the last couple of days. This very tiny business (me) appreciates each and every purchase! Find me at bowerbox.com
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
November 14, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
Visible in northern Maryland!
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Visible in northern Maryland!
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
I see a giant Z in the sky
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I see a giant Z in the sky
Here is the proof:
October 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Here is the proof:
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
October 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
October 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
October 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
A most helpful beast.
October 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
A most helpful beast.
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
October 3, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
September 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress