Intaglio Printing at Home (4 week course)

Intaglio printmaking is the print process where the ink is held on the plate in the incised lines and caught by the rough marks of the plate. Etching, aquatint and collagraph fall in to this category. This form of printmaking is often the one that springs to mind when you think of printmaking and is characterised by descriptive line work and rich areas of black. If you don’t own a press be prepared for some intensive hand burnishing to achieve your prints - it requires some effort but you can still get great quality prints in this way. In this course we will be exploring drypoint engraving on plastic and Tetra Pak, carborundum printing and monotype.

Printmaking is not just the straight-forward reproduction of an image, it is an engaging and absorbing process, an act of image making that can transform your ideas and drawings into something spectacular, that can’t be replicated in any other medium.

This online printmaking course will allow you to learn new and develop existing skills in printmaking and image making, while working at your own pace. Scarlett will show you how to set up a printing space in your home and how to work to professional standards, whether you're working in your home studio or on your kitchen table.

We will recreate the social and community feel of an in-person class in our weekly live sessions through Zoom and with our online forum, where you will be able to share photos of your works in progress with the group and give each other feedback and support.

How it will work

Every Monday during the 4 week course you will be sent instructional videos explaining and demonstrating different intaglio techniques. You will be able to watch these videos and print-along with them at your own speed throughout the week. On the Saturday of that week you will join a small Zoom session (max 8 students) where you will all be working together in your shared zoom-studio. In this session you will be able to ask questions and share your successes and failures with the group, and Scarlett will be able to give further demonstrations when needed.

You will also be invited to join the Print Club, an online forum on Slack.com shared by all Printmaking at Home students and alumni. You will be able to share your prints, questions, inspirations and works-in-progress with the whole community and in a private group just for the members of this course.

For the last week of the course you will be sent a bonus video with an advanced printmaking technique for you to try when you are feeling confident to. The materials for the bonus video are not provided but can be easily sourced if you want to give it a try. Throughout the weeks you will also be able to contact Scarlett for specific feedback on your prints.

Course timetable:

Week 0

Mon 10th January / 19:00-19:45 / A compulsory introduction for all students on Zoom

This will be a chance to get used to the format of the Zoom sessions, meet the rest of the group, and to ask questions about the materials, ensuring you are ready to start in time for the following week. Your box of materials will arrive this week in time for next week's course. 

Week 1

Mon 17th January / Videos will be shared covering:

• Introduction to Intaglio print
• Registration, Paper Preparation & Printing with a press
• Drypoint engraving

Saturday 22nd January / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Week 2

Mon 24th January / A video will be shared covering:

• Monotype & Tetra Pak Drypoint

Saturday 29th January / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Week 3

Mon 31st January / A video will be shared covering:

• Carborundum printing

Saturday 5th February / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Week 4

Mon 7th February / Videos will be shared covering:

• Combining print processes
• *Bonus video: Viscosity printing*

Saturday 12th February / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Preparing for the Online Course

As part of the course you will receive a materials box including all the basic materials you will need for the course. You will need to source some equipment and materials yourself; the box also includes a special discount code that can be used at Handprinted.co.uk - these extra materials will cost no more than £30 and you may already have some at home. A week before the start of the course there will be a short Zoom meeting to introduce the course to everyone and familiarise yourself with the Zoom app, providing the opportunity for a Q&A about the course and materials you will be using and allowing you time to order materials before the course start date the following week. 

What you will need for the online sessions:

• A tablet, smartphone or computer with a microphone & camera
• A free Zoom account - you can sign up to Zoom here. 
• A free Slack account for the online forum - you can sign up to Slack here.

Materials provided in the box & included in course cost:

• A5 Plastic drypoint plate x 3
• Tetrapak plate x 2
• Piece of scrim
• 2 pots of intaglio printmaking ink
• ~A4 printmaking paper x 20
• A4 cartridge paper x 20
• Carborundum grit
• Sandpapers
• A4 tissue paper 
• Newsprint
• Pair of gloves

Extra materials that you will need to provide*:

• Pointed drawing tools/drypoint tools
• (Desirable) Printmaking roller
• (Desirable) Palette knife
• Scrap card/old toothbrush
• Paintbrush 
• PVA glue
• Vegetable oil/Solvent to clean up
• Rags/kitchen towel/newspaper to clean up
• Metal spoon/printing press
• (Desirable) ~A3 piece of acetate/plastic for registration
• *Optional Extra for Viscosity Printing: Magnesium Carbonate Powder, Plate oil/vegetable oil*

*Further details will be provided on booking

Please note:

Postage

Cost of delivery for the materials box is included for UK addresses. If you live outside of the UK there will be an additional postage cost or an option to join without the materials box - please email info@draw-brighton.co.uk if you live outside the UK and would like to join the course.

Discounts

The cost of the course has been calculated in an effort to make it affordable and accessible, so there is no standard discount offered. However if you would like to take part in the course but the full cost is a barrier to you then please email info@draw-brighton.co.uk with a brief explanation and we will hopefully be able to accommodate you.