Continuing Education

133/141 West 21st Street

In this course students will be introduced to the potential for crafting dazzling art and text on the hand-operated Vandercook proof press. As the premier tool for text and image relief printing at the scale of the artist book or broadside, the Vandercook is both a sophisticated and user-friendly machine. We will cover all components of set-up and press make ready, paper selection, ink mixing and impression control. Students will handset metal and wood types from the SVA collection, learn to use the press for simple and effective cut-paper relief printing and for cylinder pressure prints. Projects include editioned image/text prints and an accordion image/text book. The photopolymer image/text digital process will be introduced, which offers a detailed type-high plastic plate the press can 'see' and print. Previous printmaking experience is not required.
Note: This course is held on campus at SVA.