Printmaking at Home Summer School: Foraged & Found Printmaking

Printmaking 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. For this week long course you will be engaging with your surroundings and getting outside as much as you can; to gather materials to form the prints and change the surface of the paper itself.

For this course you will be exploring textures and surfaces, gathering materials with these interesting qualities to ink up and print as relief collagraphs. You will also be affecting the surface of the paper by using resists, staining, colouring and rusting. When combined with the collagraph each print will be unique, you can then apply some additional colour with homemade inks from a selection of easy recipes. For this course you will be focussing on exploration rather than repetition.

Taking some time outside to gather inspiration and materials to make your prints and inks is an essential part of this course, making the most of wherever you live!

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 live studio 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

On the Monday evening of the summer school week we will all meet on Zoom for an introductory session to begin the course. The instructional videos will then be released after this session; we will be working to a loose structure but you will be able to watch ahead in order to plan your prints. You will be able to watch these videos and print-along with them at your own speed throughout the week. On the Wednesday you will be able to join the Draw online life drawing classes (afternoon and evening sessions) to practice your drawing/mark making skills and generate ideas.

On the Friday & Sunday you will be able to join a drop-in Zoom session 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. These sessions will run throughout the day so you will be able to leave and come back while you’re working inside and gathering materials outside.

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. Throughout the week you will also be able to contact Scarlett for specific feedback on your prints.

Course timetable:

Monday
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 the following day. Your box of materials will arrive the week before in time for the start of the course. 

Wednesday

Online Life Drawing (1-2pm and/or 7-8pm)
Try the Monoprint Drawing process / generate ideas / practice your mark making
(If you are taking part as a family and would like alternative activity suggestions please get in touch)

Thursday
Video: Creating Your Print Surfaces
Watch the video / plan your paper surfaces / gather your found materials

Friday

Studio day
Drop in zoom session 10am – 4pm / create your print surfaces

Saturday

Video: Making Your Collagraph Board
Watch the video / plan your prints / gather your found materials

Sunday

Studio day
Drop in zoom session 10am – 4pm / print your collagraphs / hand-colour your prints

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. On the Monday evening 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.

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:

• Mountboard plates
• Relief printmaking ink
• Fabriano Rosapina printmaking paper
• Cartridge paper
• Tissue paper 
• Newsprint
• Varnish
• Selection of materials for staining papers & making inks
• Pair of gloves

Extra materials that you will need to provide*:

• Printmaking roller
• (Desirable) Palette knife
• Paintbrush for varnish
• PVA glue
• Vegetable oil/Solvent to clean up
• Rags/kitchen towel/newspaper to clean up
• Wooden spoon/printing press
• (Desirable) ~A3 piece of acetate/plastic for registration
• (Desirable) paintbrushes
• Tray for soaking paper ~A4+
• Found & foraged materials

*Further details will be provided on booking

Please note:
Postage

The 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.

Additional Materials

If you will be joining the course as a group or family and you will need additional materials posted to you then please email info@draw-brighton.co.uk to arrange for this. Please note that you will only be able to join with one zoom account per booking. Sharing or reproduction of the videos is strictly prohibited.