Fine Art and Letterpress Printmaking Courses.

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The planning permission for the new studios has taken longer than anticipated, I have therefor have had to cancel our summer courses, I will post the new course dates when the building is complete and up and running.

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A programme of practical workshops and courses aimed at developing all skill levels. If you are unfamiliar with printmaking or would like a refresher course the introductory courses in Fine Art Print or Letterpress would be the ideal place to start. More advanced and specialist courses are also on offer. All courses are taught in small groups.

Our presses include, Two etching presses an Albion relief press, Heidelberg platern press and stone lithography press.

The workshops are taught by Brian Clarke MA (Fine Art). Brian has been a inspirational teacher of printmaking for over 25 years, teaching Art Foundation, degree and postgraduate students.

Introduction to Fine Art printmaking

A course aimed at introducing students to a variety of printmaking techniques, including mono prints, calligraphic and viscosity printing and relief printing.

Perfect for students who want to experiment with a range of printmaking techniques to explore creative possibilities in your work. Great for fine artists, textile and graphic designers. The course assumes no previous experience in printmaking, students wishing to take their printmaking further following this course, should consider the more advanced two day courses in specialist printing techniques.

The methods covered include various monoprint processes, calligraphic printing and relief printing.

Course Dates

to be confirmed

Course Cost

Fine Art Monoprinting

This course on monoprinting explores the exciting and fantastic possibilities offered by a range of monoprinting techniques. From simple techniques through to the more complex monoprinting offers a whole world of image making. Monoprinting is a great way to explore ideas in your work, often with amazing results.

This course can be taken by beginners and experienced artists.

Course Dates

to be confirmed

Course Cost

Fine Art Printing Collagraphs, Viscosity and Carborundum Printing.

A collagraph print is one made from a plate collaged with different textures. The process is a combination of intaglio and relief. Collage your plate with texture by gluing on wallpaper or torn cardboard shapes with PVA wood glue. Use a variety of tapes – shiny parcel tape, different masking tape can be overlapped to create an interesting variety of marks

Adding carborundum to glue and applying it to your plate gives you the ability to produce deep areas of tone or colour. Viscosity printing relies on the fact that different viscosities (thicknesses) of ink will not mix ie. oil and water, many fantastic colour results can be archived by this method.

There is no end to the possibilities with Collagraph printing. It is a creative and accessible way to make a print. The collaged plate can be sealed traditionally with shellac this makes it easier to wipe and more durable.

Course Dates

to be confirmed

Course Cost

Introduction to Letterpress

Introduction to letterpress including printing with zinc and photopolymer blocks

The Art of Letterpress:

Letterpress is a beautiful relief printing process where a raised inked image is heavily pressed against paper to create an impression. Because letterpress is a hand process no two pieces will be entirely identical and small variations in the inking, colour and position are to be expected. These practical workshop courses explore traditional and modern letterpress techniques using both Albion relief press (1870) and Arab Platen Press's (1895) pictured left. All materials, including various papers are included in the cost.

Practical 2 day course exploring firstly, the use of lead type and printing on the Arab press in the traditional manner, with an introduction to printing with zinc and photopolymer printing blocks.

Day One ,

Using lead type, you will set type and print with both the Albion and Arab Press.

Day two.

You will learn the techniques and processes, starting with an introduction to using the computer to generate designs and text in readiness to send to a zinc block maker using PDF's. We will then consider how you can make your own photopolymer plates from design to making the photopolymer blocks for printing. The course concludes with printing your blocks on the Arab platen press.

IMPORTANT: Three weeks before the course you will need to send a design or text in a pdf form (10x10cm) the design will be made into a photopolymer block for printing. If you are unable to send a design you can use our block and not incur the plate making fee of £20 see below.

Course Dates

to be confirmed

Course Cost

Drawing into Print. A five day course

Date to be confirmed

Course director Brian Clarke MA

For further information email or ring Brian tel:01295 678840 brian@artybonbon.com.

A fantastic opportunity to further your drawing and printmaking techniques in this exciting and unique course.

Drawing into print, an exciting practical course for beginners and experienced artists. The course offers a platform to explore both drawing and printmaking with like minded individuals.

An opportunity to explore the possibilities of both drawing and printmaking, bringing them together to make exciting, vibrant and striking images, though a series of practical workshops.

The course will also offer the opportunity to look at and discuss other artists use of print and drawing, helping to give a contextual back ground to to our practical work.

Throughout the course we will consider the notion of "subject matter" along with composition, colour and abstraction. We will be using the grounds of Upton House and gardens(National Trust) to consider landscape as subject matter. ( Our studio is only two minuets walk to the Garden where we have unparalleled access)

Cost £350 Five day course all materials are included. Places are very limited for this course giving Brian ample opportunity to consider and discuss individual needs on a one to one bases.

The course runs from Monday to Friday, start time 10am finishing each day at 4pm. Lunch is not provided but we have the kettle on most of the time bring a packed lunch or use the restaurant in the Grounds of Upton House if you wish.

Brief course outline

Day one
introduction to the course and printmaking facilities

Session one: Drawing an experimental approach.
Session two:Exploring our drawing in print.

Day three
Printmaking, a more advanced consideration of monoprint, Collagraphs and Viscosity printing
Session one: workshop, making prints ( although you may well have stated your printmaking earlier!!)
Session two: relief printing techniques.

Day four
Advanced printmaking techniques with a Project
Session one:discussion,projects and thoughts and preliminary drawings and prints.
Session two: workshop time

Day Five
Workshop day
Session one: Starts with a short discussion on our individual projects then down to work.
Session two: workshop time
Session Three: discussion followed by exhibition and refreshments.

Further details

The weekend courses are Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 AM and finishing at 4 pm on both days.

Tea and coffee are provided and are in constant supply, please bring along a packed lunch

The inks we use on our courses are traditional oil based inks the majority of materials are within the cost of the course, but additional photopolymer plate and cotton printing papers are extra.

Essential equipment you should bring along with you

• note book and or Sketch book

• Apron

• Rubber Gloves

• Drawing equipment

• ideas and enthusiasm

• Books and any source material you wish to explore.

Bespoke Courses & Enquirers

Brian is happy to discuss bespoke courses or adding a new course date if you have more 2 or more students for a course, email or phone Brian 01295 678840