“It’s lovely to feel physically exhausted at the end of every day.”

Name: Vincent Perez
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Occupation: Pressman and Designer

The artisan in Vincent Perez sacrifices the easier, more modern digital press for the art of mid-century analog printing. He says it’s all about friction. Take social media as a modern medium for an example. It’s most successful when the platform demands the least of its user and therefore less friction. The challenge of the mid-century press and the physicality of its use entail friction ensuring hard work and a rewarding feeling alongside a tangible result.

There’s craftsmanship involved in using an old letterpress. Experimentation too – the digital press is too advanced to allow for that. There’s individuality to the final piece unachievable with a mass production press.

Vincent loves the holistic production. As a designer, he controls production from design to printing to distribution. Most designers simply email or FTP their design files to the printer and receive a sample at the end. But Vincent gets the satisfaction of combining manual labour and creativity to produce a beautiful, unique printed piece. 

It all started with an art project. Vincent received scraps from a printer to make books, and during that journey he realized that he wanted an education in design. While at NSCAD in Halifax, Vincent wiggled his way into Dawson Printing – a teaching print shop at Dalhousie. And his collection of old presses began as did his knowledge and experience.

A true collaborator, Vincent now works with his own clients to develop high-end designs and printed pieces in his own shop, Everlovin’ Press. “There are times when clients want me to do things I never intended, and I always have to think about being in a business to do what I love, and making a living. But my mentors taught me to always remember why I started this business and to always guide myself that way.” It’s led to Vincent’s version of success – the physical satisfaction of hard work, while servicing customers invested in the final piece of art.

Photography: Jonathan Bielaski www.jonathanbielaski.com
Words: Jodi Szimanski