Planographic Printing at Home (4 week course)

Planographic printmaking is the print process wherein the ink is transferred to the paper from a flat surface. Lithography and monotype fall into this category. This form of printmaking translates the drawn mark incredibly faithfully and allows for a huge amount of subtlety in the mark making. So if you like drawing then this is the course for you. We will also be using chocolate to draw with for a fun twist! Expect kitchen lithography, painterly monotypes, chine collé and monoprint drawing.

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 planographic 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 28th February / 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 7th March / Videos will be shared covering:

• Introduction to Planographic Print
• Registration & Printing with a press
• Kitchen Lithography

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

Week 2

Mon 14th March / A video will be shared covering:

• Monotype & Chine-collé

Saturday 19th March / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Week 3

Mon 21 March / A video will be shared covering:

• Monoprint Drawing & Hand Tinting

Saturday 26th March / Live Zoom workshop / Choose between 10-12pm & 4-6pm

Week 4

Mon 28th March / Videos will be shared covering:

• Combining Print Processes
• *Bonus video: Paper Plate Lithography*

Saturday 2nd April / 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:

• 2 backing plates
• 2 pots of lithographic printmaking ink
• ~A4 printmaking paper x 20
• A4 cartridge paper x 20
• ~A4 Pei Zei Xuan papers x 5
• Cellulose Sponge
• Chinagraph Pencil
• Chine-collé papers
• Chocolate selection
• A4 tissue paper 
• Newsprint
• Pair of gloves

Extra materials that you will need to provide*:

• Printmaking roller
• (Desirable) Palette knife
• Paintbrush 
• PVA/glue stick
• Watercolours/gouache
• (Desirable) Sharpie/oil pastel/Indian ink
• 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
• *Optional Extra for Paper Plate Lithography: Gum arabic, black and white photocopies/laser prints*

*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.