We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clara Bauman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Clara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

My career path has been non-linear; it has been a journey through teaching in NYC public schools, working in higher ed, and years of circling around two questions: how do I make art my career, and how can I work in service of others? Back in the winter of 2021, I was working as a public school art teacher in Brooklyn. It was the height of the pandemic and every day in the classroom was difficult; I was working incredibly hard, teaching both remote and in person classes, and trying my best not to get overwhelmed by constant change and the threat of getting sick. Planning my July 2021 wedding became my escape. I loved working with our vendors, choosing flowers, and thinking about my dress. I knew that at the end of this traumatic, intense school year, my partner and I would be celebrating with our families and best friends. As part of wedding planning, I decided to make my own wedding invitations; I found a detailed guide on the Boxcar Press website on how to set up a DIY letterpress at home, and spent weeknights crafting the perfect invitations. I completely fell in love with the letterpress process – over the following year, I started taking courses at the Center for Book Arts and letterpress equipment started taking over our one bedroom apartment. After sending out my invites, friends started asking me to make their wedding invitations. Working with them taught me how to collaborate and build trust with clients, and it was so gratifying to give them custom artwork that celebrates them and the people they love. My partner and close friends encouraged me to keep going, and my work started attracting attention. I realized that starting a custom wedding invitation business would allow me to regain the control over my life that teaching through a pandemic had taken from me. I knew that my passion for learning and challenging myself and my ability to build rapport with clients would help me succeed. I founded Crown Peak Press in the fall of 2021, and that spring I transitioned out of teaching. Learning letterpress and starting Crown Peak Press transformed my life; while I still have a day job and run Crown Peak part time, the business allows me true independence and creative freedom.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Clara Bauman, a letterpress printer and designer, and the founder of Crown Peak Press. I create custom, handmade wedding invitation suites for my clients, as well as day of materials (menu cards, signage, place cards, etc.) for weddings.

Clients come to me for custom design because they’re looking for something one of a kind that captures their unique aesthetic and their vision for their wedding. Offering custom services means that I have to be extremely flexible and agile in my design process, and that I’m continuously learning and incorporating new techniques and skills into my practice. It’s a joy to work collaboratively with clients and to tailor each project to my clients’ specific needs. I’m extremely proud that each couple I work with walks away with a completely unique product that speaks directly to their energy, style, and their love as a couple.

Crown Peak Press is my way of infusing art into my everyday. It’s a dream to take my clients’ ideas and bring them to life through letterpress and illustration. There is nothing quite like transforming one of my designs into a tangible representation of somebody’s love, accomplishment, or celebration.

As a queer person, it’s especially meaningful to me when I have the opportunity to design work with LGBTQ+ couples. While creating wedding materials may seem insignificant or superfluous to some, but even in 2023, it’s still a radical act and an honor to create joyous and beautiful artwork that celebrates the love of LGBTQ+ individuals.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Throughout my 20s, I suffered from a great deal of imposter syndrome. Despite being surrounded by confident, self-assured friends, I felt unable to trust my gut and I held myself back in my career by my lack of confidence. I was convinced that everything I have to say has been said before, and that I could never make a living making art. When I started Crown Peak Press, I was taking a leap of faith by trusting that I was enough. It has been the most gratifying experience to see how my artistic voice and style translates into innovative and high-end products that my clients love. By taking risks and sharing my artistic vision with others, I learned to trust my instincts and to fully believe in my worth.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Before starting Crown Peak, I taught art and I’ve always felt very strongly about the importance and impact of quality art education for children. Thinking back on my own childhood, it was my experiences in art class at school and watching my parents’ joyful and curious artist friends that shaped who I am. Artists and creatives are continually learning and evolving, and we have skills to pass onto younger generations. I hope that one day I can incorporate teaching back into my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crownpeakpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownpeakpress/

Image Credits
Sarah Otis and Crown Peak Press