Life and Work with Whitner Carlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitner Carlin.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember. I never went to art school, but I’ve always drawn, painted and found ways to pursue a creative lifestyle. Just before I married a couple of years back, I decided I wanted to design my own wedding invitations. Not knowing too much about specialty print at the time, I outsourced my designs to a local letterpress printer, which was my first real introduction with the process. I was instantly hooked and knew I had to learn more, so I started to hang around & print with some more experienced printers in town during my spare time.

About a year later, a printer friend sent me a craigslist posting of an old Chandler and Price press for sale up near Aspen for $400. Without knowing exactly what I was looking for or the right questions to ask, I left work and drove 3 hours to take a look. The seller mentioned that he had numerous inquiries, but that he thought I was the right one for this press. I then explained that I had no idea how to transport it back to Denver. He mentioned that he happened to be a snowcat driver so he knew how to operate large machinery well, and he was coincidentally making a trip to Denver the next day & offered to drive it down for me for free. The whole experience was a bit surreal, and I felt in my gut that this press was meant to find me.

Fast forward a little, and one baby girl later, I’m now learning what my life looks like balancing my role as a new mother and letterpress printer.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, there are hardships that come with owning any small business.

One major struggle from the beginning has been learning the capabilities and limitations of my press. As a self-taught graphic designer and letterpress printer, there’s been a lot of googling and trial by error in my life over the past couple of years. My press was built in 1896. It’s an old-style Chandler and Price press, one of the oldest models still used today. Naturally, a lot of tinkering and fixing comes with these old presses, but my press also came without a motor or foot treadle. I jimmy-rigged a treadle with a 2 by 4 from Home Depot, which works like a charm, but most people don’t realize that I press each piece of paper by foot and hand. My press is also better suited for smaller sized jobs, so smaller greeting cards print more easily than extra large prints or wedding invitations. In a way, the limitations of my press have led me to experiment with smaller sized products.

Another thing I have struggled with over the years has been learning when to say no and politely turn away work that doesn’t align with my aesthetic. Starting out, I printed mostly wedding invitations, baby announcements, and stationery – a lot of custom work. I allowed myself to commit to jobs with varying styles that often required a lot of people-pleasing, which wore me down over time. The birth of my daughter was a blessing in many ways, one of which being that it forced me to be more intentional with my time and the type of work I now take on.

My advice for those starting out might be to take each day at a time and to focus on and celebrate your tiny wins. These days, it’s nearly impossible not to get bombarded with everyone else’s successes and talents through social media and elsewhere, but no one else is on your path and has been gifted with your unique talents. Focus on those little positives sprinkled throughout each day and don’t forget to smile.

Please tell us about Lettered West.
For now, I’m focusing on greeting cards, stationery, small business branding and limited custom work. I’m known for my simplistic illustrations, my focus on minimalism, nature and wholehearted living.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s a wonderful resource for cultivating the creativity already within you. I would recommend it to anyone on a creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.letteredwest.com
• Email: hello@letteredwest.com
• Instagram: @letteredwest

Image Credit:
Joslyn Griffin, Abigail Green

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