Printmaking Taster Workshop: Relief

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Special Information

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• Lino

• Lino-cutting tools

• Relief printing inks

• Rollers for inking

• Cartridge paper

• Collage materials

• Newsprint

• Tissue paper

• Indelible marker pens

• Pencils

• Cotton buds

• Liquid detergent

• Printing press

Essential materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves:

• An apron or an old shirt

Content of Course

1. Students will develop an understanding of relief printmaking as a means of exploring and developing new visual ideas. This direct technique lends itself to many creative possibilities which will be explored by students through direct workshop experience. In support of studio activities, students will be introduced to both contemporary and historical examples of the medium. 

2. Students will learn how to cut a piece of linoleum using relief cutting tools to create a printed image.

3. Students will learn how to apply printing ink with a roller to produce a selection of their own printed images on paper using expressive relief cutting techniques.

4. Students will be introduced to methods of applying colour with a roller, including opaque and transparent colour techniques.

5. Students will learn how to register linoleum plates to create multiple colour images through the ‘reduction printmaking method’.

Teaching method(s)

The workshop will commence with a slide show relevant to the workshop highlighting contemporary and historical examples and the creative range of the medium. This will be followed by a practical workshop commencing with technical demonstrations of relief printmaking followed by an intensive workshop experience under tutorial supervision as follows:

The tutor will give an introductory slide presentation highlighting contemporary and historical examples of the relief process by a selection of artists.

The tutor will demonstrate how to create an image into lino using a small selection of cutting tools highlighting ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ image cutting techniques.

The tutor will demonstrate methods of applying printing ink onto an image using a roller.

The tutor will demonstrate how to “pull” a print using paper and a printing press.

The tutor will demonstrate simple registration technique to create a multiple colour ‘reduction’ print.

Students will then proceed to produce their own linocut prints under supervision by the tutor.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this taster course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of linoleum relief printmaking;

• Use relief printmaking as an experimental and creative medium;

• Use a selection of printmaking tools, inks and machinery with confidence;

• Demonstrate an awareness of health and safety issues and safe working practices. 

Sources

Web Sources

https://www.edinburghprintmakers.co.uk/artists

https://www.stjudesprints.co.uk/collections/our-artists

http://www.gpsart.co.uk/

Class Handouts

Technical sheet: Relief Print ‘QuickStart Guide’.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.