Introduction to Printmaking (A Four Week Course on Wednesdays)

This four week course (2nd & 9th October then 6th & 13th November) is intended for complete beginners and will provide an introduction to the art and basic processes of the major types of printmaking. We will consider three techniques in more detail by making and printing from one or more plates or blocks: Linocut (Relief printing), Drypoint (Intaglio) and Collagraph (Mixed). The number of places on this course will be limited.

Some aspects will be by demonstration but most will be ‘hands-on’. The aim is to make some prints and provide a good foundation for safe independent working with the materials (such as plates, paper and inks), tools (gouges and rollers) and equipment (presses) in a printmaking studio.

Over the period of the course we will cover:

• Safety aspects
• Differences between techniques
• Image design (positive-negative, image reversal)
• Making a plate according to technique
• Inking the plate
• Registration techniques (to align paper and plate)
• Importance of paper selection
• Printing methods (by hand and by press)
• Introducing more colours (various techniques)
• Cleaning Up!
• Other possibilities

By the end of the course you should have a good understanding of the main processes of printmaking and be confident to produce a print by hand or using a press.