Monotypes & Collographs

Monotypes and collographs are two forms of printmaking that favor organic, gestural, textural, and ephemeral marks and imagery. They are also incredibly immediate, playful, and multi-faceted types of printmaking, and therefore well suited to first time printmakers and artists who typically work with paint, mixed media, and sculpture.

Monotypes usually begin from a sheet of plexiglass as the foundation. Through working additively and reductively with ink, crayons, water or solvents, and stencils, students can capture a large range of aesthetics from subtle tonality to gritty textures to minimal formal forms. Collographs are similar, but incorporate elements of relief by collaging things like fibers, sandpaper, and acrylic mediums directly to the plate. The plate is then inked similarly to either a relief or intaglio print.

Throughout the class, students will develop new ways to build images while learning about the properties of ink, paper, pressure, and how they interact to create a broad range of aesthetic possibilities. Printing techniques will include collage, collographs, multiple plate printing, trace, stencil, ghost, additive, and reductive. Students will make many prints to learn and test these processes before moving on to a project that combines various methods and showcases a personal style or vision. Students will need to supply the paper for independent projects. All participants will leave the class comfortable using our etching press, and authorization to continue printing at Spudnik after the class.

Screenprinting Explorations (Early September)

Most people are fans of screenprinting whether they know it or not. Screenprinting is an art form known for its bold graphics and versatility. A close cousin of stenciling, screenprinting is relatively easy to learn, yet has many facets to explore and master. Our eight-week class provides adequate time for new printers to complete a range of projects on paper and fabric, gradually increasing in complexity and nuance. With the ongoing support of a pro to help trouble-shoot along the way, students will be familiar with dark room exposure, mesh count, screen tension, ink consistency, and registration.

In addition to developing A+ printing skills, this class will help students develop their imagery, be it hand-drawn illustration or digital files, to successfully translate to print. By the end of the class, students will know their way around the print shop, and be well equipped to continue printing independently at Spudnik Press Cooperative.

This class typically fills 2+ weeks in advance. Early registration is suggested.

From Plant to Paper: Making Paper with Milkweed

In this class, students experience the entire process of paper making beginning at the
source: the raw plant material. Focusing on Milkweed, an abundant native plant, we will learn how to responsibly harvest, extract fiber from the plant, and process it into pulp. Once processed, we will then learn how pull sheets using the Western method of sheet formation.

Similar to Kozo and other bast fibers commonly used in eastern papers, Milkweed has long fibers. When beaten by hand, this long fiber creates strong paper with a cloth-like surface.

Students will leave this class with an understanding of how plants are processed into paper, as well as skills pulling, pressing, and drying handmade sheets.

This class will meet for SIX Saturday sessions starting on November 2nd until December 14th, omitting November 30th for Thanksgiving weekend.