Our studio

Red Bird Press is a community-driven, artist-run facility dedicated to preserving and sustaining the crafts of Printmaking and Book Arts.

With the shared belief that Print Isn’t Dead, we are focused on enhancing the democratic quality of printmaking by creating inventive and strategic programs that invite interest and/or bring people into the studio, either through paid workshops, extended educational courses, or community outreach. Our vision is to create a community-centric space for artistic expression, education, and collaboration, allowing the historic craft of analog communication to continue to inspire people and keep antique equipment in use. 

A man working at a keyboard and electronic equipment inside a room with white walls and an arched doorway.
A pink pegboard with various craft tools and supplies, including paint rollers, screwdrivers, and a utility knife.

get involved with red bird press!

Join our community at Red Bird Press and get to know and learn from fellow printmakers in the Houston area. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, our organization thrives on community engagement and has a place for everyone.

Workshops and classes are regularly available every month and can be viewed on our workshops tab and listed on our calendar. Registrations can be made on Zeffy, linked in our calendar and on our workshops page.. Learn something new with us!

Artist Membership pricing and information can be found on our Key-Holder Membership page. Key-Holder Members enjoy 7am - midnight access of our studio and facilities. We’d love to have you join us!

Supporter Memberships are a great way to directly support our organization while benefitting from discounts on classes, workshops, and select merchandise. Sign up as one today!

Volunteers are greatly appreciated! If you have any interest in volunteering with Red Bird, please contact us.

Studio EQUIPMENT

Letterpress

  • Large, antique collection of wood and metal type

  • Vandercook No. 4

  • Vandercook Universal

  • Assorted Line-O-Scribes

  • Chandler & Price 8×12 Treadled, Platen press

  • Chandler & Price 6 × 10 Pilot, Platen press

  • Mercury Model X Excelsior 6 × 10 Platen press

Silkscreen

  • 20×24 and 23×31 screens, assorted mesh counts - members are encouraged to bring their own screen

  • Ryonet Exposure unit

  • Dark room equipped with photo emulsion, scoop coaters, and screen drying rack

  • Power washer and wash-out station with emulsion remover, haze remover, and ink remover

  • 1 Vacuum table + 9 flat bases with butterfly hinges

  • 1-Screen T-shirt printing base (x2)

  • Assorted squeegees, water buckets, sponges, hairdryers, and lifts

Intaglio

  • Conrad Etching press (15 x 30 in. bed)

  • Vertical ferric chloride etching tank

  • Tarlatan

  • De-burring tools + metal files

Relief + Monoprint

  • Whelan Xpress Captain-wheel press (30 × 60 in. bed)

  • Assorted carving tools, sandpaper

  • Monoprint plexi plates + assorted paint brushes

Book Arts

  • Bone folders, scoring boards,

  • Assorted cutting tools, knives, and cutting mats

  • Book binding tape, thread, cradle, and needles

  • PH neutral glues

Other Studio Equipment

  • Guillotine paper cutter

  • Stack paper cutter

  • Large drying rack

  • Small drying rack

  • Top-down vacuum exposure unit

  • Paper-making screens, sponges, and blender

  • Assorted inking tables, brayers, palette knives, rulers, cutting mats, and tear bars

  • Markers, pens, and crayons

  • Cleaning supplies

  • Pica Poles

  • Ink Scale

  • Pantone Color Guide

  • Decorative wall poster with the words 'Red Bird' in bold red and pink letters, with colorful shapes and a small bird illustration, and the word 'PRESS' in orange letters underneath. The setting appears to be an event or gathering space with a table holding bottles, snacks, and various items.

  • A wall decorated with various colorful posters and artwork, including a large banana print, a banner that says 'In better light everything changes', and smaller posters with quotes and images. There is a wooden printmaking press and a table in the foreground.

  • Wall with various colorful posters and prints, including phrases like "You Are Loved!", "Keep Your Mind Open", "Bans Off Our Bodies", "Space City", and "Hugs Not Hate." There is a wooden cabinet below the posters, a green door frame on the left, and a small stack of black trays or disks on top of the cabinet.

  • A wooden furniture cabinet with multiple flat drawers and black handles, organized with small labels, topped with vintage typewriter ink stamps and stamp racks, in a retail store with yellow-bordered mirrors and a sign reading 'BIG & CHUNKY!' on the wall.

  • A printing press producing red and black signage with the words 'TOGETHER' and 'PRIDE'.

  • Stack of printed posters with orange text that says "PULL PRINTHS OUT OF THE FOLDER" on wire shelving.

  • Smiling person with tattoos on arm using a screen printing press to create a t-shirt design in a studio.

  • A screen printing press in operation printing black ink on a transparent sheet with printed text and graphics, with a person partially visible in the background.

  • A woman screen printing a design onto fabric at a workshop, wearing a pink and white cap and an apron, with colorful artwork and posters on the wall behind her.