Continuing Education

This course is for anyone who would like to use letterpress to craft beautiful prints and artists' books. Images can be created from a variety of materials, including cut-paper plates, wood and linoleum blocks, and monotype bases. Photo-polymer plates can also be made in class from scans of drawings or photographs, which opens up the amazing possibilities of combining digital and analog images in a unique and expressive way. Various techniques will be explored to render simple as well as intricate stand-alone images and image/text combinations. Key concepts covered will include printing press operation, the creation of relief surfaces for printing, color mixing, paper selection, multiple color press runs, collage, hand-coloring, and even simple binding structures. Participants will have access to the metal and wood type collection. This is a hands-on course; no prior press experience is required; bring your art ideas or find them as we explore together relief printing on the Vandercook press.
Note: Access to the printshop outside of class hours is available to continuing education students enrolled in printmaking courses. Access to the printmaking facilities outside of class hours is as follows: Monday through Friday, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hours are based on classroom availability. Access will not be available outside these designated open access times. Access to the printshop terminates on the last day of the scheduled course. No access will be granted after this date. This course is held on campus at SVA.