I’ve been basking in the pleasure of print magazines. It’s been a necessary antidote to the glare of screens, the roll of scroll. Touching the pages. Satin, glossy, rough. The weight, the thickness. Images and words traced with a finger. An antidote to the ephemeral.
The tactile — the real! — of print feels comforting and welcome, especially this season. Palettes, images, and fonts, the way they wind and flow. Relationships. Proportion. The negative space refreshes. Breath, wonder.
In honor of the beauty of print, here are several magazines that inform and delight me. You might find them satisfying, too.
Every issue of No Depression I’ve bought, I’ve kept. Can’t let them go. Truly a “coffee table” publication, it’s rich, thick, satiny, and weighty. They use the highest-quality ink. The photography is varied and stunning. The articles and interviews with top Americana musicians compel and fascinate.
Fiddler magazine is an anomaly; it manages to be high-end and approachable at the same time. Whether you’re an aficionado, luthier, professional, or amateur, you’ll find something to engage with. They’re currently moving into a new phase of publishing and communication, so now’s an especially good time to have a look and feel. The magazine is glossy and liquid to the touch, sort of like a sweet-toned violin.
Verily is a classy magazine aimed at young women. I think all ages can find something within to enjoy. “In an age of filters, Photoshop, social media, and internet overwhelm, relatable women’s media can be difficult to find. True to our name, Verily sifts through the noise of the world to elevate what is honest, real, and beautiful for the modern woman… “ They’ve maintained a strong digital presence in the last few years, and in 2023 are returning to print production. This is reassuring to see when so many similar publications are going online only.
Holding on to the way print feels, I’m mostly elsewhere as the year draws to a close, and look forward to creating with you in 2023.
