October 4 | Screenprinting: T-shirts & Totebags (1 day)

Convert your own drawing or design to a collection of hand-printed wearable items in this energetic and informative one-day workshop. Printing an assortment of t-shirts or tote bags is practical, fun and incredibly gratifying.

Students should come to the workshops with a bold black and white drawing, a high-contrast photo, or a digital design. While Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop files are great, students can also bring a Microsoft Word file or a high-contrast photocopy. After students refine the artwork (as needed) to be “print-ready”, students will expose their image onto a pre-coated photographic screen and mix their own custom ink color. 

Everyone should bring five items of their choosing to print. As long as they are fabric and flat, we can help you print on it! Shirts, tote bags, tea towels, bandanas, and thrift store jean jackets will all work great. Leave with a surprise gift for a friend, or an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags.

October 4 | Narrative Forms-Risography (4 Weeks)

Since the debut of zine culture and indie publishing in the 1950s and 60s, alternative comics and zines have forever changed the notion of narrative. By introducing visually led dreamlike scenarios, diary comics, fragmented storytelling, and DIY guides, these DIY movements—from punk to queer zines—opened up entirely new ways to share ideas. This entry-level class is perfect for anyone interested in Risograph printing techniques and experimental storytelling, offering a space to develop your printing skills and narrative voice in unison.

In this course, students will learn both digital and analog techniques for printing via the Risograph. You are free to explore any type of story, whether that takes the form of a comic, a pamphlet, a DIY guide, or a review. To inspire new methods of narrative building, we will also read and discuss a variety of local and non-local alternative comic authors. Students will gain authorization to use the Risograph machines after the very first class, and will solidify those technical skills through hands-on printing in the following weeks.

October 6 | Independent Study Letterpress (4 Weeks)

Note: this class requires previous letterpress experience

For printers who have a specific project in mind or want dedicated time to refine their craft, this four-week independent study provides the space, equipment, and structure to make it happen. This course is perfect for students with foundational letterpress experience who are comfortable with basic press operation but want a supportive environment to execute their own work.

Unlike a traditional structured class, there is no set curriculum or weekly syllabus. Instead, each student will design and print an independent project, bringing their own concepts to the press while being supported on a technical level. Through dedicated studio time and on-hand guidance, our teaching artist will be there to help with troubleshooting, registration, ink behavior, and typesetting logic. Students will be empowered to work through the nuances of their specific projects.

October 15 | Intro to Relief Printing (4 Weeks)

Relief printmaking dates as far back as the 7th century and is considered the oldest form of printmaking, appearing first as woodblock images in China. It is a graphic yet versatile process, capable of hardedge imagery as well as soft tonality. In relief, an image is carved in reverse into a block which is then inked and sent through a press. The tools are simple and approachable but the possibilities are expansive.

Our Intro to Relief Printing class equips students to plan, carve, and print in relief practices. During this class, students will be guided through the best methods for planning and transferring their images utilizing subtractive techniques that exploit line, shape, contrast, and texture. In addition, students will learn how to mix and modify inks, handle paper, methods of registration, and how to finesse pressure on the press for the best results.

With the completion of this class, students will not only produce an edition of prints that reflect the skills built throughout this class but receive authorization in relief printing at Spudnik. Further printing in relief can be explored through our Open Studio or Keyholder programs.