January 26 | Intro to Intaglio, Etching (6 Weeks)

Intaglio printmaking emerged in Europe well after the woodcut print, with the earliest known surviving examples being undated designs for playing cards made in Germany, using drypoint technique in the late 1430s. Engraving had been used by goldsmiths to decorate metalwork, including armor, musical instruments and religious objects since ancient times. Scholars and practitioners of printmaking have suggested that the idea of making prints from engraved plates may well have originated with goldsmiths’ practices of taking an impression on paper of a design engraved on an object, in order to keep a record of their work, or to check the quality.

In our 6-Week Intro to Intaglio course, beginners to experienced students will benefit from learning etching techniques, drypoint techniques, and plate wiping techniques as they move onto familiarizing themselves with intaglio printing. By the end of the multi-week class, students will finish an etching with multiple proofs of their plate in various stages.

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 etching at Spudnik. Further lessons on intaglio can also be explored through booking Private Lessons so students can work on more specific projects with an instructor.

January 27 | Intro to Letterpress Printing (6 Weeks)

This course is the perfect introduction to letterpress printing. From its creation by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century, letterpress printing was the norm for printing text. Its use persisted in books and various applications until the late 20th century.

Letterpress printing evolved from simple platen presses, where paper was pressed onto an inked form, producing beautifully imprinted text and images. Over time, the flat platen was replaced by a roller in the flat-bed cylinder press, streamlining the process.

In 6 weekly sessions, students will develop foundational skills including hand setting metal and wood type, basic mechanics and proper use of presses, overview of materials (ink and paper), and community studio etiquette.

Students will learn how to set type with a composing stick, including adjusting letter and word spacing, building up type, and printing type with consistent impression. They will learn to print on our platen presses, including locking up in a chase, basic make ready to improve impression consistency, registration of multiple layers, and cleaning the press.

This class is great for creatives, graphic designers, writers, and anyone interested in exploring language as a visual medium.

In addition to gaining authorization to print independently at Spudnik Press, students will have access to Open Studios to work on their projects.

**Note:** There is a glitch in our system; please note that when putting this class in your cart, the title changes to a screenprinting class. While there is a gremlin in our system, rest assured that you are signing up for the correct class.