How It All Began: The Dream Behind Erlenwerk

I’ve always had one burning dream: to create a workshop where traditional crafts like stone printing, paper making, and bookbinding aren’t just skills – they’re the foundation of a living, breathing artistic experience. These techniques aren’t just part of my practice; they’re my creative soul. After years of visiting lithography and paper workshops across Europe, and collaborating with talented colleagues, my longing to found my own workshop only grew stronger. I realized I didn’t want to just be an observer in these spaces – I wanted to be an active part of this vibrant network. I dreamed of a place where artists could reconnect with the beauty in the slow, intentional process of creation – where grinding stones, printing, and crafting paper by cooking and beating fibers are more than just steps in a procedure. They are experiences, moments of discovery that deepen one’s understanding of both the material and the craft itself.

I wanted to create a space where the traditional methods of drawing, paper making, and printmaking could truly shine – a place where their distinct visual languages, physicality, and the knowledge passed down through generations could be explored, celebrated, and kept alive. A place where the materials – paper, ink, press, metal, stone, and wood – each tell their own story and invite others to get their hands dirty, feel the textures, and immerse themselves in the tactile world of print and paper.

And here, it all came together: me, Käthe, and Sarah – three colleagues and friends from the art academy, all with the same dream. We met in the lithography studio, where we spent years experimenting with the technique, inspired and encouraged to share the spirit of a printing workshop with others. This shared vision brought us together, and in 2024, we founded our workshop – Erlenwerk. More about us and our adventurous journey of gathering presses, stones, and papermoulds to create this space can be found on our webpage.

Photo Credits:
Judith Ziegenthaler, Sarah Steuer, Team Erlenwerk