Clawhammer Press

10/05/2026

Print shop views: morning light on metal type.

Sentree

10/03/2026

One layer at a time… building these chevrons up. 5 split fountains down now, maybe one more to go?

10/01/2026

09/29/2026

I’ve never paid much attention to sculptural book structures, not because they aren’t fascinating, but one only has time for so many rabbit holes and my yard is already pretty full of ‘em. That changed this past weekend with a workshop The Fernie Arts Station with my friend and colleague Andrew Huot Big River Bindery / Andrew Huot. I built two tunnel books over the weekend, the second one I explored a crossover from my own book/engraving project by proofing a series of 2x3” wood engravings from the Pilot Bay Lighthouse block and using them to build this tunnel book. I’m really chuffed by how it turned out, and excited to have this little sculptural form to amplify my current project. What a fun and interesting weekend!

09/27/2026

Part 2 of my article for Articulate Mag about my experience with residencies over the last couple of years.

🌊 Affirmation: The ability to think of yourself as an artist is a lifelong journey because imposter syndrome is real and tireless. 🐋
On articulatemag now: our East Kootenay columnist Michael Hepher shares part II of his series on residencies, helping us understand what they are and the value they provide.
His Fernie studio is Clawhammer Press
📒 read it now: the QR code is in the comments 🔗 or type articulatemag(dot)ca into your browser

09/27/2026

I’ve had a great time hanging out in the studio this week with Andrew from Andrew Huot and Big River Bindery. We had some good food, spent some time printing fun things, and he was@gracious enough to share some tips for the binding of my book project. I also got to sit in on his weekend workshop The Fernie Arts Station where we got to build some sculptural book forms like a tunnel book. What fun.

He also got to witness the first snow of the season.

09/14/2026

This is a part of the process that is hard to show: writing. If I’m being honest, this part is so far out of my comfort zone I don’t know what to call the place it exists. I come from a family of wordy people. I’ve written songs and articles and stories my whole life, but my poetry has stayed in my journals. There’s something deeply personal about putting my own poems out there in this way but this project has pried open the latch. My old friend Paul N Reimer used to tell me “Say yes and then figure it out” and that’s what is happening here: I couldn’t see another way.

I am publishing a book of 26 original wood engravings structured around the alphabet, an abecedary (eh-bee-see-dery) which is book-geek-speak for an ABC book. The book is designed to highlight the things I love about the place I live, but to prevent it becoming yet another settler’s history of the region, I realized I had to make it personal. It’s become the story of me and my family and our connection to this place, why it feels like home, and my unease with calling it home knowing it was someone else’s home before this. I’ve poured my heart into this project and it’s become very personal, and lovely, and challenging… but it has never stopped feeling vulnerable. And yet: forward I go.

This part requires quiet mornings by the fire, good coffee (lots of good coffee) and patience with myself. I also would be so much more exposed feeling if it weren’t for my poetry editor, and a crew of devoted helpers that are pre-reading for me. I feel like I’m getting close to finishing or abandoning them where they sit, which is great because I need to start printing next month. I’m proud of this work and it was never meant to be Mary Oliver, it’s meant to be me… and if that interests you stay tuned.