Printmaking CANCELLED (BE09Z14A)

Course overview

This project-based course will aim to get you employing a range of different skills, techniques and approaches as you explore and develop your own unique art style and language through printmaking. Whether you enjoy the freedom to experiment and create one-off monotypes or to produce finished printed editions using lino cutting skills, the possibilities for hand printing at home are endless.

Whilst the tutor will endeavour to keep the materials and equipment needed to a minimum, some specialist printmaking tools and supplies will be required.

Where This is an online course.

When Monday, 10:00am - 12:30pm from 28th September 2020 until 23rd November 2020 for 8 weeks.

26th October (Half Term)

Cost The full fee is £172.00.


Additional Costs
To avoid unnecessary cost please do not purchase any materials until you are certain that your course will run. Course decisions are normally made a week prior to the course start date. Course fees over £127 can be paid in one single payment at enrolment or in instalments by Standing Order. Please contact the office for details.

What you already need to know

This course is for students with some experience of printmaking who are looking to develop their existing skills as well as exploring new and exciting ways of working. Printmaking involves many different ways of creating images and artworks and it is not necessary to be skilled in drawing to achieve beautiful outcomes.

What you will learn

There will be an emphasis on project work and students will be encouraged to develop initial ideas through research and experiments to produce finished prints and artworks. You will explore different materials used in printmaking and items that can be used from home.

With Amanda's support you will look at how to investigate source material, use roughs and experiments to develop ideas, use composition and planning skills to design and edit images, as well as developing the skills needed to cut and create a variety of line and makes to produce dynamic and exciting work.

You will have the opportunity to use and develop:

• blockprinting techniques
• collograph techniques
• linoprinting techniques
• monotyping techniques

By the end of the course, you will have gained further knowledge and understanding of the variety of printmaking processes achievable at home and will be able to get started with your projects or you may choose to continue learning new techniques on Amanda's next printmaking course.

How you will learn it

Using the online medium you will learn directly from your tutor as well as through tutor demonstrations, presentations, online resources and group discussion. You will have plenty of opportunity to develop your practical skills and your tutor will give you guidance and feedback as you establish and undertake personal project work.

Padlet will be used to create an online interactive course support page with information, images, examples, demonstrations and video links uploaded to support each session as well as an online gallery for student work. Both of these can be accessed via the links given at the course start and can be used to support your development both in and away from the online classroom.

Bring to the first session

ACRES' online courses will be taught in real time using the video platform Google Meet, supported by other online resources. To ensure you get the most out of the course and can fully participate in the sessions you will interact with your tutor and other students through speaking, listening and the chat function, as well as being able to see each other via the video links, though you can turn off your camera and microphone at any time.

You will therefore need to have access to either a laptop, computer or portable device (eg tablet or phone) (this ideally needs to be less than 5 years old), with a camera / webcam and microphone, as well as a good broadband / Wi-Fi connection.

Though it is not essential, you may choose to create a separate email account for your online learning (preferably Gmail which is most compatible with Google Meet). This will give you the added security to allow you to share your email address with your tutor and other students on the course to enhance your learning experience, without disclosing your personal information.

At the start of the course and before each lesson your tutor will send you an invitation with a link to join the class and any further information including resources and equipment you will need for the lesson.


Materials and items you will need to do the course

There are a number of online suppliers and it is always worth shopping around to find the cheapest prices. Below is the list of suppliers I use but there are alternatives:

• lawrence.co.uk
• intaglioprintmaker.com
• handprinted.co.uk

Basic equipment list:

• A tube of black relief printing ink as a minimum (I use Speedball Water-soluble Relief Printing ink and there is a good range of colours to choose from if you want additional inks)
• A soft rubber roller (the Speedball 4" soft rubber roller is ideal)
• Lino cutting tools (the 'Inexpensive Pencil Type Cutters' sold by Intaglio are excellent and great value (£11.28) or the Speedball Lino Cutter Assortment no 2 is a good alternative)
• Relief vinyl or lino. There are several different alternatives which can be used - Relief Printing Vinyl (Japanese), Softcut Vinyl, or traditional hessian backed lino
• Wipe clean surface for inking up (e.g. a Glass Inking Slab or Plastic Economy Inking Tray or a glass chopping board or small piece of melamine)
• Scalpel knife, a cutting board or suitable surface to cut on, and ruler
• Masking tape
• Sketchbook or A4 paper
• Cartridge paper and/or printmaking paper (Zerkall Extra Smooth is a good all round printing paper)
• Copy paper for experiments
• Tracing paper (or baking parchment works well as an alternative)
• Cardboard (ideally mountboard if you have this at home but alternatives will be fine e.g. cut up cereal boxes etc)
• Found papers - e.g. tissue paper, book pages, maps, wallpaper scraps, newspaper, handmade/Japanese papers, sewing pattern pieces etc
• Cotton buds

Optional Techniques and Equipment:

• If you would like to use Gelli printing techniques you will need a Gelli printing block
• If you would like to use chine colle techniques you will need spray mount or Pritt stick and some coloured tissue or thin papers
• If you would like to use photo transfer techniques you will need Mod Podge Matte Waterbase Sealer (or PVA)

Extra study or practice

Over the course your tutor will advise you about different artists or movements which are relevant to your own work and you will be able to carry out your own research and continue to use and develop your workbook at home if you wish to do so.

How to enrol

You can enrol by phoning ACRES' House on 01825 761820 on Monday to Friday between 9:30 am and 4 pm. Alternatively, to register your interest in a course please email adultlearning@acres.org.uk with the course title and your contact details and a member of the team will call you back to enrol you on your chosen course.

Previous students say

I've loved learning different print techniques and being able to use them at home without needing lots of equipment.

I enjoyed the excellent presentations by Amanda and the good camaraderie and support from other students.

I have absolutely loved the course so far! I feel very proud of my ability to now create prints using different materials.

Next steps within this subject with ACRES

A further 10-week Printmaking course will be offered with Amanda on Monday mornings at 10.00 - 12:30 starting 18th January 2021.

Please see our website for up to date information on all our courses.

Future steps beyond ACRES

The tutor will be able to provide information about other printmaking courses/workshops that are available in the local area and Brighton (i.e. at both BIP and at Inkspot Press).

Find out about other courses with the National Careers Service for opportunities to extend your skills and knowledge.

Further information

Please visit the ACRES website, see our brochure, or alternatively contact a member of the team on 01825 761820.