Letterpress Printing from Photopolymer Plates
Wednesday, April 4 / 6 – 8 pm
and Saturday, April 14 /10 am – 4 pm
Design and print your own digital designs on the letterpress. Photopolymer plates allow one to letterpress print from any digital file and are often used for business cards and other personal stationary. In the evening session of this class on April 4, letterpress printer Katherine Case will give students a step by step guide to creating a letterpress-ready PDF file. We will discuss the in’s and out’s of printing from photopolymer plates and look at lots of handouts and examples. Students will then email their own PDF’s to a service bureau (NOTE: there will be a fee of $60-$75 each) to get photopolymer plates made. On day-two, Saturday, April 14, class will meet at Meridian Press, Katherine’s letterpress studio in Southwest Reno to print individual polymer plates on a Vandercook letterpress. While we are printing everyone’s work, students will learn how to lock up, ink and print. No letterpress experience is required. Some design experience is required to create the personalized digital pdf for the polymer plate.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels
Supply list: Please bring ideas for your project and lots of questions to the first session of class.
Hand-carved Blocks with Watercolor: Winter Botanicals
Wednesdays, January 24 / 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
and Wednesday, January 31 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Hand-colored linocut prints combine the dramatic presence of a linocut with the versatility and vibrant hues of watercolor painting. During the first session of class students will learn will the basics of carving and printing a linocut print by hand. Students will carve into traditional battleship gray linoleum as well as the newer Gomuban carving substrate. An oil-based relief printing ink will be used to create the perfect resist week two, when watercolor and colored pencil techniques will be utilized to brighten up the black and white prints. Students will leave with a set of varied and vibrantly-colored prints.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels
Supply list: Please bring ideas for one or two 5×7 linocut prints that will be carved on week one and hand-colored on week two. Black and white photocopied or laser printed images can be transferred onto the linoleum blocks. All other materials are provided.
Linocuts: Holiday Cards
Friday, December 1 / 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Learn to carve simple, beautiful patterns or images in linoleum and print them using Japanese hand printing techniques. The holiday-inspired images we’ll be working with in this class lend themselves especially well to this versatile printmaking process. Found images can be transformed into vibrantly layered compositions using Katherine’s easy transfer and carving techniques. Everyone will leave with a small edition of hand-printed holiday cards. You’ll learn all about the tools, techniques and resources you need to be begin linoleum carving and printing at home.
Supply list:
Pencil, ruler, photocopies of patterns and holiday images you would like to use (some will be provided to choose from by instructor). NOTE: Please bring a sack lunch.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels
Summer Intensive: Linocut Techniques
Tuesday – Thursday, August 22 – 24 / 10 am – 3 pm
Beginners and intermediate printmakers alike will enjoy this project-based approach to linoleum-cut printmaking. Learn several techniques for multicolor printing as well as how to carve simple, beautiful patterns and images into linoleum. We will print using Japanese hand printing techniques and on the etching press. Students will be able to work from their own images at their own pace. Katherine will cover strategies for working with key blocks and tint blocks, developing pattern and choosing images that lend themselves especially well to this process. Students will complete this class with a small edition of handcut prints. You’ll learn all about the tools, techniques and resources you need to be begin linoleum carving and printing at home.
Supply list: Pencil, any 5×7 black and white images (photocopies or laser prints) you may be interested in using for a print (some will also be provided), linoleum or wood carving tools if you have them. All other materials are included with your registration.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels
Linocuts: Holiday Cards
Friday, November 11 / 10 am – 4 pm
Learn to carve simple, beautiful patterns or images in linoleum and print them using Japanese hand printing techniques. The holiday-inspired images we’ll be working with in this class lend themselves especially well to this versatile printmaking process. Found images can be transformed into vibrantly layered compositions using Katherine’s easy transfer and carving techniques. Everyone will leave with a small edition of hand-printed holiday cards. You’ll learn all about the tools, techniques and resources you need to be begin linoleum carving and printing at home.
Supply list:
Pencil, ruler, photocopies of patterns and holiday images you would like to use (some will be provided to choose from by instructor). NOTE: Please bring a sack lunch or money to place a to-go order with the Museum’s restaurant Chez Louie.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels
Draw, Print, Repeat: Experiments in Repeating Patterns
Wednesdays, September 21 and 28 / 6 – 8:30 pm
Students of all levels are invited to explore basic drawing and printing techniques to create beautiful hand printed textiles. Learn the basics of pattern design through a three class series that will teach you to gather inspiration through mood boards, brainstorm and sketch your own unique designs, and translate your ideas into handmade stamps that you will use to create seamlessly repeating patterns onto fabric yardage. You will also learn the basics of color selection, scale, and composition for your pieces, helping you create a collection of complimentary textile designs. The techniques learned in this series will carry you through a myriad of decor projects that you can easily replicate on your own for home decor and personal projects after the series is complete. Casey will be sharing all of her best tips and tricks for building a beautiful body of hand printed textile work. *Supply list.
Instructor: Casey Sibley
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels
Linocuts: Botanical Blossoms
Saturday, July 23 / 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Learn to carve simple, beautiful patterns or images in linoleum and print them using Japanese hand printing techniques. The botanical images we’ll be working with in this class lend themselves especially well to this versatile printmaking process. Found images can be transformed into vibrantly layered compositions using Katherine’s easy transfer and carving techniques. Everyone will leave with a small edition of botanical prints. You’ll learn all about the tools, techniques and resources you need to be begin linoleum carving and printing at home. *Supply list.
Instructor: Katherine Case
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels
Draw, Print, Repeat: Experiments in Repeating Patterns
Wednesdays, April 20 – May 4 / 6 – 8:30 pm
Students of all levels are invited to explore basic drawing and printing techniques to create beautiful hand printed textiles. Learn the basics of pattern design through a three class series that will teach you to gather inspiration through mood boards, brainstorm and sketch your own unique designs, and translate your ideas into handmade stamps that you will use to create seamlessly repeating patterns onto fabric yardage. You will also learn the basics of color selection, scale, and composition for your pieces, helping you create a collection of complimentary textile designs. The techniques learned in this series will carry you through a myriad of decor projects that you can easily replicate on your own for home decor and personal projects after the series is complete. Casey will be sharing all of her best tips and tricks for building a beautiful body of hand printed textile work.
Supply list: Fabric swatches, magazines, or any other inspiration pieces from home to use for creating mood boards. All other supplies are provided by the Museum.
Instructor: Casey Sibley
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels
Girls’ Night Out: Hand Stamped Block Printing
Wednesday, April 6 / 6 – 8:30 pm
Ladies are invited to get crafty with this fun and social workshop. Create simple stamps from foam sheet cutouts applied to wood blocks to create stamps. Using block printing techniques students will create a fun set of wood blocks which can be stamped to create unique stationary and works of art. Bring old friends, meet new ones and have a great night over a glass (or two!) of wine and a fun project designed for all skill levels.
Instructor: Casey Sibley
Ages: Adult (21+) / All Levels
Relief Printing and Bookbinding: Transforming Two Dimensions
Thursdays, January 21 – March 3* / 5:30 – 8:30 pm
NOTE: Class does not meet on January 28
Learn the basics of bookbinding and relief printing in this fun, fast-paced class. Create several different types of handmade books—a non-adhesive journal with a long wraparound cover, an artists’ sketchbook and a hardcover book. These book structures will feature covers and interior pages with handprinted patterning and original linoleum cuts created in class. We will print from linoleum, monoprinting plates and “Easy Carve,” creating hand carved patterns that can easily be transferred to book covers and pages for dramatic effect. Katherine will also introduce image generation short cuts that use transfers and other techniques. Finally, everyone will design and carve their own small signature image, or “chop” to use on their original prints and books. You’ll come away from this class overflowing with ideas for printmaking and bookbinding projects! Because it covers unique book structures, this class can taken as a companion to A-Z Bookbinding, or on it’s own.
Supply List: Pencil, ruler, Xacto knife, bone folder, doublestick tape, bookbinding awl, Speedball lino cutter or similar tool, Speedball “Easy Carve” block at least 2″x2″ in size.
Additional Supply: Please bring black and white images (to transfer or draw from). First block will be 4 1/2 x 4 1/2″
Optional: Collage materials, specialty papers, rubber stamps and pads
Instructor: Katherine Case
Level: Adults (15+) / All levels