This course is an immersion in the culture and craft of relief printmaking (woodcut, wood engraving, linocut, and relief etching). Beginning with black line and white line techniques from the live model, students develop skills at translating empirical observation to relief’s ‘binary’ language.  They then present image ideas and begin a semester long project resulting in a suite of prints that may be in dialogue with their thesis project. Advanced techniques such as chiaroscuro, multi-block, and reduction printing are demonstrated over the span of the course. Regarding cultural immersion, students will visit print shops, artists’ studios, and print fairs.

3 credits

Core Learning Outcomes

Ability to translate a tonal drawing of the human figure into the graphic language of relief

• Develop moderate to advanced skills with the standard carving tools
• Understanding of relief printmaking’s history and contemporary developments
• Ability to translate one’s own artistic language into relief
• Ability to print relief editions, modify inks, and solve printing problems
• Knowledge of contemporary practices and contemporary artists working in relief

The 600 year history of intaglio methods and their contemporary uses serves as a backdrop to this expansion of the drawing process toward the unique the properties of the medium. It focuses on particular techniques and languages best suited for creating the volume and light effects in figurative representation. The program includes regular technical demonstrations in line etching, engraving, drypoint and mezzotint. Students may work from a live model on certain projects but are expected to complete prints based on a self-directed concept or theme.

3 credits

Core Learning Outcomes

• Understanding techniques and languages best suited for the rigors of figurative representation in intaglio
• Skill with line etching, engraving, drypoint and mezzotint
• Ability to translate live model to intaglio processes
• Thorough technical knowledge of plate making and printing techniques
• Ability to recognize printing problems and solve them
• Ability to apply intaglio processes to one’s own artistic sensibility
• Understanding of intaglio’s history and contemporary applications

This course addresses technical problems faced when working with the figure and pictorial space in lithography. As practiced since the 1790’s, lithography offers a myriad of additive and subtractive methods including tusche, crayon, maniere noir, lo shu, and toner.  Students will apply these to work from the live model on stone and aluminum plates as well as pursue a suite of self-directed prints.  Lithography’s social history and role in contemporary art are studied in relation to students’ individual projects.

3 credits

Core Learning Outcomes

• Ability to solve technical problems in printing lithographs
• Ability to represent the figure and space in lithographic media
• Create of a suite of self-directed prints
• Ability to process successfully, pull proofs, rework the stone or plate and complete an edition of 15 prints
• Development of techniques and visual language uniquely tailored to lithography and one’s own form sense
• Understanding of lithography’s history and contemporary uses

Students explore traditional and new printmaking techniques in series of related prints, unique objects, and explore their relevancy to contemporary art. The class is a seminar/workshop in which Directed research and practice in printmaking for individualized development of content and technique. Emphasis is placed on exploration and growth in the intellectual, conceptual and expressive aspects of the printmaking process.

3 credits

Core Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of traditional and contemporary techniques in monotype
• Ability to individually develop content and technique
• Improved painting skills and knowledge of printmaking methods
• Ability to work in a direct, spontaneous manner leading to gestural images and textured surfaces