Those of you who know Barrie will also know that he’s been working on a very long term project called The Typographic Dante. He’s always at pains to point out that he has been busy with other projects, but the truth of it is, he made the first print back in 1989 and has worked on it on and off ever since.
However. Finally. After 30 years, he‘s managed to complete the Letterpress and Typewriter illustrations for Inferno and Purgatory and has finally dipped his toes in the Letraset illustrations for Paradise.
Paradise: Canto I – The glory of the One who moves all things / permeates the universe and glows / in one part more and in another less.
Paradise: Canto V – such were the far more than a thousand splendours / I saw approaching us, and each declared: / ‘Here now is one who will increase our loves.’
Each of the three processes has given him particular challenges to overcome – the limitations and restrictions inherent in each of the now ‘dead’ technologies. One issue for the Paradise pieces is not only the finite amount of dry transfer sheets he has but their age. Already some of the sheets are crumbling away as they are used. And several sheets (admittedly from an inferior supplier) no longer have any glue on the letterforms, so the careful burnishing may well release the character from the carrier sheet, but in then simply falls off the paper and leaves no trace.
The other unexpected joy is the discovery of some wonderful type sheets…
And the odd youthful misstep.
Oh. The. Shame.
(There’s actually a really interesting article about Chris Costello and the story behind Papyrus here.)
The Caseroom Press 
February 11, 2019 at 10:02 am |
Pleased to see you have finally taken your first steps in Paradise. Enjoy the walk!