The Purple Crayon Press is in the heart of a lovingly restored Victorian era home in Baltimore’s historic Charles Village neighborhood, mere blocks from Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Museum of Art.  Established in March, 2020, it brings to life the long-held dream of providing a haven that draws together creative people, their talents, ideas, and passions.

The intimate and efficient print shop includes a 30 x 48” Takach etching press, a 12 x 30” Charles Brand etching press, 24 x 36” heated inking stand, homasote drying system, and a covered outdoor workspace for biting copper or zinc plates. The Purple Crayon is a comfortable, mutable workspace and houses an extensive library —including art and print history, printmaking and drawing techniques, and artist monographs—all of which are available to stimulate inspiration for creating relief, intaglio, and collagraph prints. 

The Purple Crayon Press will host small printmaking workshops, individual tutorials, and artist residencies.  In the tradition of Gertrude Stein’s Saturday Salons, the space also provides a venue for creative fellowship across disciplines, including local conservatory musicians performing for Jazz Nights; illustrated smArtTalks, which encourage lively discussion on a selected theme in Art History; and WIP Crits, exhibiting works in progress for individual and group critique for both artist and amateur. The Purple Crayon facilitates the magic synchronicity that blossoms when former and future students are drawn together to share their curiosity, time, talent, and adventures in art of all kinds.