Slow and Steady, Right?

September 11, 2025

Susy Castle

For the past nine months, I’ve been working as a professional print maker and type setter. This is a journey I would’ve never expected to have dove into only three years ago, and, suddenly, I can’t imagine not being part of this absurd and beautiful world. All the dusty, old type I’ve gotten to pour over has been the adventure of a lifetime. The tediousness of setting type is something I can’t be without now. The heart ache of ruining a Linocut and trying to save it is an anguish that I’m ever so grateful to know. Though not a full year into this profession, I’ve decided this is what I’ve been looking for creatively. Nothing has fulfilled that creative itch quite like this work. I’ve become so attached to it, that I’ve decided I would like to take up my own private practice on top of the work I am doing at the museum I currently print for. This dream is not one that can fulfilled overnight I’ve come to realize. With most things in life, the desire for immediacy has ruined many ventures I’ve wanted to jump into. Though this is true, the privilege of currently working as a printer gives me the confidence that I can grow this personal work of mine over time but with much patience. Accepting that is easy but practicing that is much harder. It seems like once you find something good, it takes fighting for which can be discouraging. There’s attacks on all sides trying to push me away from pursuing this, and not all the pressure is coming from negative influences. Many good things are desperate to steal that time away from me. Building this up will be a sacrifice but one that I’m willing to make in order to see this come to fruition. This makes me think of quote I once heard but can’t remember who said it unfortunately: “Good art resists being made.” So I’ll push through the awkward growing pains, and keep trying to make good art.