Introduction to Relief Printing

Explore relief printing: learn to cut rubber and linoleum surfaces, and use lines, marks, and texture to suggest value as you create expressive designs. Practice safe cutting and carving techniques to make stamps, and experiment with the incorporation of color in your compositions.

• Week 1: Begin with an introduction to the class and an outline of relief printing methods that will be explored. Then practice safe carving methods and create a small design using a variety of lines, shapes, and visual textures.
• Week 2: Make prints based on intricate or simplified designs using one or two colors. Practice cutting rubber and linoleum away with differently-sized gouges and knives to further develop your mark making.
• Week 3: Create prints using a variety of colors. Develop strategies to maintain consistency and learn to control inking through the effective use of brayers. Create a new design, and begin carving a block or matrix to begin your final print.
• Week 4: Print, sign, and number a small edition of relief prints before we conclude our time together with a discussion about our work and a reflection on the different techniques we have learned.

Expand your art-making skills through guided, step-by-step instruction with expert teaching artists. Over multiple weeks, you will learn alongside other creative adults and delve deeply into the artistic process, explore new techniques, and build your practice.

This is an introductory-level Studio Class; it is designed to accommodate all levels of skill and talent. If you have never taken an art making class before, this is a great place to start. You will learn new skills that you can use in your artistic practice.

The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class.