MODERN OPTIC

The Planetary Series

by Leslie Ross-Robertson

Planetary Series is a limited-edition box set of 10 letterpress prints, created over eight years, that invites tactile and visual exploration of our solar system. The set functions as a contemporary codex, an artist’s book reimagined as a sequence of individual prints that together narrate a cosmic story. Each print acts as a “page” in this visual manuscript, engaging viewers with the distinct identities of the planets and their interconnected celestial movement.

The work interprets the essence of a planet or the Moon through layered imagery, color, and form, drawing inspiration from science, history, and mythology. The series is rooted in the concept of planetary resonance, the gravitational rhythms and harmonic relationships that connect celestial bodies and shape the intricate dynamics of our solar system.

Planetary Series began in 2018 with early tests and unfolded over eight years, a period that mirrors the orbital cycle of Venus, symbolizing regeneration, transformation, and resonance, concepts central to the project. The collection evolved through continuous proofing and revision in a responsive, discovery-driven process.

Each print was hand-printed on an SP20 Vandercook Press on 100% cotton paper using photopolymer plates and soy-based inks. Each color was printed from a separate photopolymer plate, requiring a distinct pass through the press. The layered process demanded close attention to registration, pressure, and ink consistency, reflecting the precision and patience inherent in both letterpress printing and the study of planetary motion.

A consistent visual key appears throughout the series: a relative scale diagram inspired by 1960s science book illustrations. This element orients the viewer within the solar system, identifying the planet’s name, its position from the Sun, and the mythological origin of its name. The Moon is noted as Earth’s satellite. The diagram serves as a cosmic legend, providing a unifying framework across the suite and reinforcing the sense of scale and relationship among celestial bodies.

The series includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Every print was created through a meticulous multi-pass process, with each ranging from eight to forty-two individual press runs. The prints are archival and suitable for framing, and individual prints are available in addition to the complete box set.

A companion sound experience, based on NASA planetary sonifications and original compositions, is available through QR code. Planetary pitches are derived from Hans Cousto’s Cosmic Octave, a system that translates each planet’s orbital frequency into audible notes.

The design for Pluto was informed by detailed NASA images from the New Horizons mission. Dr. Caitlin Ahrens, a NASA Solar System Ambassador and expert on Pluto, provided guidance and verification throughout the process. Her expertise, including her graduate research on ice mixtures under simulated Pluto conditions, helped ensure scientific accuracy in representing the planet’s surface, color variations, and named craters. Pluto is identified in the series as a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, following current scientific classification.

November 15, 2025 - January 10, 2026 — Planetary Resonance
A solo exhibition by Leslie Ross-Robertson
Letterpress • Sound • Video • Events
Location: Art in the Park

The Planetary Series
by Leslie Ross-Robertson
This letterpress series includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto.
Based on NASA photos.

Printed on 100% cotton paper, and soy inks. To purchase: https://www.wavelengthpress.com/shop-wavelengthpress or enquire. The series is available.

The Planetary Series
by Leslie Ross-Robertson
This series includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto. Complete boxed Codex available.

Printed on 100% cotton paper, and soy inks.

Moon, 2019
Eight pass letterpress print.
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Mars, 2019
Nine pass letterpress print
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Venus ( with cloud cover ),2019
Nine pass letterpress print.
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Earth, 2020
Fifteen pass letterpress print
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Mercury, 2025
Fourteen pass letterpress print
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Pluto, 2021
Twenty-seven pass letterpress print
12 X 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Neptune, 2022
Twenty-three pass letterpress
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Uranus, 2023
Ten-pass letterpress print
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Jupiter, 2024
Twenty-six pass letterpress print
12 x 16 inches
Edition of 100.

Saturn, 2025
Forty-two pass letterpress print
16 x 18 inches
Edition of 100