Art 2303 | Printmaking
Printmaking Survey is an introduction to the basic techniques and concepts of intaglio and relief printmaking.
Below are descriptions of some of the assignments in the course with student work examples.
Relief Print Master Copy
Objective: Students will develop understanding of the basic principles of black and white line relief printmaking through the exploration of woodcut and/or linocut print techniques via the reproduction of an historical relief printed image. Upon completion of this assignment students should understand how block cutting techniques, inking practices, press usage, types of papers, etc, will all affect the outcome of the final printed image/design.
Requirements: An historical relief print will be selected by Jacob for reproduction and divided among the class in equal sized image tiles. Design information will be transferred by hand to your woodblocks using carbon transfer paper methods. Image tiles will be the same size as your block, approximately 5x7鈥. The completed block will be as many times as are needed to obtain a quality impression.
Black Line/White Line Relief Prints
Objective: Students will expand upon the basic principles of black and white line relief printmaking through the exploration of woodcut print techniques via the production of imagery/designs created according to their own aesthetic and conceptual interests guided by the theme 鈥淧rotest/Promote鈥. Upon completion of this assignment students should understand how block cutting techniques, inking practices, press usage, types of papers, registration techniques, etc, will all affect the outcome of the final printed image/design.
Requirements: Design information will be transferred by hand to your woodblocks using carbon transfer paper or drawn directly on the block. Imagery should fill the entirety of the picture plane and will be the same size as your block, approximately 7鈥漻10鈥. The completed block will be editioned to a minimum of 3 prints.
Relief Reduction Prints
Objective: Students will demonstrate understanding the basic principles of relief reduction printmaking. Upon completion of this assignment you should have a general comprehension of how the layering of inks, ink modifiers, printing method, types of papers, block cutting techniques, etc, will all affect the outcome of the final printed impression.
Requirements: Preliminary sketches/photography will be divided into 3-5 values/colors/layers (including the color of your paper). Sketches will be transferred by hand to your MDF blocks. Sketches should be the same size as your block, 7鈥漻10鈥. The completed reduction print will be editioned to a minimum of 3, meaning 4 total impressions including your Bon A Tirer.
Black & White, Hard Ground Line Etching, Aquatint.
Objective: Students will learn the basic principles of hard ground line etching used in intaglio printmaking and then add additional tonal information to one image using aquatint etching techniques. Upon completion of this assignment you should have a general understanding of how the hard ground, graphite transfer, spray paint aquatint, ferric chloride etching, inks, ink modifications, plate wiping, printing papers, press, and printing blankets will all affect the outcome of the final print.
Requirements: Preliminary sketches will be done during and after the first class period. Sketches will be transferred to the grounded copper plate. Finished sketches should be the same size as your copper plate, no larger than 6鈥 x 4鈥. The completed line etching and aquatint plates will be printed a minimum of 4 times each.
