Relief Printmaking

Relief printmaking is a graphic and versatile type of printmaking that dates as far back as 500 BC. An image is carved in reverse onto a block, which is then inked and sent through a press. The tools are simple and approachable but the possibilities are expansive.

Relief Printmaking empowers students (both first-time and seasoned printmakers) to plan, carve, and print relief blocks. Throughout the class, students will use subtractive thinking drawing techniques to transfer to linoleum blocks and use a variety of carving techniques that exploit line, shape, contrast, and texture.

On the press, students will learn how to mix ink, handle paper, register multiple colors, and finesse pressure to produce a set of prints that utilizes the skills built throughout the class. Students graduate authorized to print independently at Spudnik Press through our Open Studio or Keyholder programs.

Basic carving tools are available to use during class, but we encourage students to acquire their own set to use outside of class. We recommend Blick’s Student Wood Chisel Set as well as Flexcut SlipStrop to keep them sharp.

Printmaking Foundations (October)

For anyone who wants to be creative through printmaking, our foundations class introduces first time printers to the wide variety of printmaking processes, equipment, and resources at Spudnik Press Cooperative. Students will experiment with three unique types of printmaking throughout the six weeks. With each printing process inducing its own aesthetic, this class offers abundant opportunities to elevate sketches and designs through print and to understand the basic concepts that bridge the many types of printmaking at our studio.

Screenprinting is a form of stencil making that is used to print fine art as well as posters, cards, t-shirts, and more. A relief print is made by carving an image into wood or linoleum with gauges, inking the surface, and transferring the image onto paper. Etching, also known as Intaglio [in-tal-yoh], is a family of printing techniques in which an image is incised into a metal plate. Artist can directly scratch into plates with needles, or they can draw through a ground and etch the image into a plate using a chemical. Two weeks are devoted to each process, with a final session for wrapping up projects and planning next steps.

Together, these processes range from experimental to exacting, bold to subdued, and unpredictable to calculated and can open new possibilities for artists, writers, and anyone who wants to learn a new way to make art. Printmaking Foundations can act as either a general introduction to everything Spudnik has to offer, or a refresher course for artists who have previous experience.

DIY Greeting Cards: Relief Printing

The graphic look of a hand-carved relief print makes for great greeting cards.
Relief printmaking is a graphic and versatile style of printmaking that dates as far back as 500 BC. An image is carved in reverse onto a block, which is then inked and sent through a press. The tools are simple and approachable but the possibilities are expansive. On the press, students will learn how to mix ink, handle paper, and finesse pressure to produce a beautiful, personalized set of greeting cards.