March 16 | Intaglio Explorations (4 Weeks)

Intaglio printmaking is a family of printing techniques developed (in part) by goldsmiths as a way to decorate armor, musical instruments and religious objects. These days, artists use a fine point needle to draw through a thin protective ground to expose copper. With the help of a chemical bath, marks and images are etched into the metal with a remarkable amount of detail.

Artists can also work more spontaneously by scratching gestures and images directly onto plates, transferring textures, or painting directly onto plates with resists and mordents. This highly versatile art form can produce a huge range of aesthetics.

Beginning with basic line etching, students will practice traditional plate making and printing. Through chine collé, aquatint, dry point, soft ground, and experimentation, students will add tonality, color, and varied marks to their images. No prior printing experience is needed, and students who do have intaglio experience can revisit the foundational skills with a more nuanced understanding of the process, and move on to independent projects.

Registration fee covers tuition and class materials, including consumable studio supplies. The basic tools (etching needle, scraper and burnisher) are available to use during class, but students may wish to acquire their own so that they can work outside of class.

March 29| Experiments in Etching

Intaglio printing is one of the oldest printing techniques in the world, dating back to the 15th century. Using the basic concepts of employing resists and acids to create surfaces that are inked and printed to create consistent images, artists for hundreds of years have used these principles to create dramatic light and dark tones, fine detail, and gestural mark making within their printed images. 

Students of all skill levels will learn through this class the basic mechanics of intaglio printing and will incorporate the use of resists, acids, and inks to etch lines and tones into copper and ultimately produce printed images. Utilizing these traditional concepts as a jumping off point, this class will explore experimental techniques and unconventional materials such as plaster printing, unconventional aquatint, sugar lift, and more. Each week will introduce a new concept, demonstration, and hands-on learning, culminating with a final project at the end of 4 weeks. Students will be encouraged to work independently between classes. 

Students completing this class will become authorized to print at Spudnik Press through our Open Studio program.

March 31| Drypoint Printing (4 Hours)

This workshop is great for ambitious beginners curious about intaglio techniques. The drypoint process covers the basic skills needed to become familiar with etching and other intaglio processes, and therefore would set students up for further success with intaglio in the future.

Students will learn drypoint techniques, plate wiping techniques, and gain familiarity with intaglio printing. Students will leave with a finished drypoint plate and print, as the class hours will be devoted to learning technique versus creating a perfected artwork.