Printing

MCBA’s in-person and virtual workshops in book arts are designed for adults looking to spark their creativity and professionals aiming to hone their practice. Our in-studio workshops offer hands-on experiences with specialized equipment and small class sizes, and often include a physical takeaway like a book, poster, or handmade paper. Virtual workshops feature processes that require easy-to-source materials and the opportunity to connect with artists from near and far. Our teaching artists—who bring a wide range of experience and education—thoughtfully balance lecture, demonstration, work time, and group sharing.

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Letterpress 3: Two-Color Postcards

with Jason Yoh
Thursdays: March 21 & 28; 6–9pm CT

Letterpress 3: Two-Color Postcards focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice. Printing more than one layer involves printing the same piece of paper multiple times with unique forms (raised type or image) and ink colors for each layer. Careful registration to make each layer align as designed requires planning and troubleshooting. In this in-person workshop, learn how to choose colors and mix ink as well as techniques for adjusting color on the press to create unique effects. Participants will also be introduced to MCBA’s larger Vandercooks, the 219 and Uni 3, which have the capacity to print larger forms and can be more comfortable for taller printers. Procedures for maintaining a community print studio will be reviewed in addition to basic press operation, care, and safety.  Continue reading “Letterpress 3: Two-Color Postcards”

Letterpress 2: Setting Type

with Erin Maurelli
Saturday, March 23; 10am–4pm CT

This in-person letterpress workshop focuses on setting metal type and building familiarity with printing on the Vandercook press. Learn how to navigate MCBA’s type collection, how type is stored and organized, and how to arrange it in a composing stick for setting a text. Training will be provided on line justification, kerning (space between letters and words), and methods for holding type together (or “locking up” a form) for printing. Procedures for maintaining a community type collection and print studio will also be covered, in addition to a review of basic press operation, care, and safety. This workshop is an excellent refresher and opportunity to get reacquainted with MCBA’s presses and print studio. Continue reading “Letterpress 2: Setting Type”

Screen Print: Guided Projects

with Ben Etten
Thursdays: March 28, April 11, 25; 6–9pm CT

Have an idea for a print but not sure where to start? Stuck in the middle of a project and in need of help? Or, are you interested in taking your screen printing skills to the next level? Join this unique in-person workshop designed for screen printers with introductory-level experience and a desire to create an independent project with guidance. Continue reading “Screen Print: Guided Projects”

A History of the Book for Book Artists

with Rebecca Hranj
Saturday, March 30; 10am–4pm CT

What is a book? As book artists we continuously explore this question through our own work and our thoughts about the work of others. In this in-person workshop, we will consider how we can make our own work richer by asking, “What has a book been?” Through the lens of book history we will examine a variety of books: print books in our hands, images of books photographed by libraries and museums, and books that are exclusively digital. With this new knowledge we will work together to develop individual projects that engage historical bindings and methods. Questions we wrestle with may include: Is this how my ancestors would have done it? What role does colonization play in this book? Who has been oppressed, erased, or stigmatized through these materials? Can I cue my audience about the content by referring to the design of an important book—say, a 1940s pulp novel or a hand-lettered medieval manuscript? Come with open curiosity and leave with new context for your artistic practice. Continue reading “A History of the Book for Book Artists”

Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (April)

with Erin Maurelli
Saturday, April 13; 10am–4pm CT

This in-person letterpress workshop offers an introduction to MCBA’s print studio—including key equipment, tools, and terminology—in addition to an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of printing a message through the hands-on process of letterpress printing. Get to know MCBA’s wood type collection and learn beginning typesetting with wood type. Learn the basics of working with a flatbed cylinder press, including operation, safety, and care while building skills using the equipment with support from a teaching artist. In pairs, choose a text (three to five words) and print your own small edition of posters on a Vandercook press.  Continue reading “Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (April)”

Screen Print: Fabric

with Ben Etten and Michelle Lee Lagerroos
Saturday, April 13; 10am–4pm CT

Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and print your own unique design on a tote bag and tea towel. In this in-person workshop, learn the basics of screen printing on fabric using hand-drawn artwork, cut paper stencils, and darkroom techniques. Instruction will cover design, screen exposure, ink, and multi-color printing for fabric. Come away from the workshop with the confidence to work independently at MCBA’s Screen Print Labs Continue reading “Screen Print: Fabric”

Letterpress 4: Editioning

with Jason Yoh
Thursdays: April 18 & 25; 6–9pm CT

Letterpress 4: Editioning focuses on planning and printing an edition (or a group of identical prints). Printing an edition starts with making design decisions: choosing ink color, paper, edition size, typefaces, etc. Then, artists need to prepare for printing by cutting paper, preparing images, setting and proofing type, etc. This in-person workshop will offer beginning printers strategies for creating an edition, including how to plan a project and how to make an edition of consistent prints. The teaching artist will share an example of an editioned project she created from start to finish. Then, in pairs, plan and print a small book (using an exercise to create content). Procedures for maintaining a community print studio will be reviewed in addition to basic press operation, care, and safety. This workshop is an excellent refresher and opportunity to get reacquainted with MCBA’s presses and print studio. To register for this workshop, participants must have taken Letterpress 1, 2, and 3. Continue reading “Letterpress 4: Editioning”

Woodcut Printmaking

with Leah Klister
Saturday, April 20; 10am–4pm CT

Experience the process of relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop. Learn all steps of the process, from transferring your design to the printing block to signing your first edition of prints! Instruction will cover methods for turning your design into an image for woodcut printing, carving techniques, techniques for printing with a baren (a smooth pad used to apply pressure when printing) by hand, and how to repeat the carving and printing process to achieve more depth and layers on your prints. Continue reading “Woodcut Printmaking”

Introduction to Screen Printing

with Ben Etten
Saturday, April 27; 10am–4pm and Sunday, April 28; 10am–1pm CT

Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and practice the photo emulsion process, from positive creation and screen coating to exposure and reclaiming. Each participant will complete an edition of multi-layered screen prints and come away from the workshop with the confidence to work independently at MCBA’s Screen Print Labs. Continue reading “Introduction to Screen Printing”

Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 7–11

with Leah Klister
Tuesday-Friday, July 16–19; 9am–12pm CT

Explore a new art medium in MCBA’s print studio! Experience relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop. Learn all of the steps, from copying your design to the printing block (a soft eraser-like block) to signing your name on your finished prints. Practice carving your block, printing with a baren (a smooth pad used to apply pressure when printing) by hand, and how to repeat the carving and printing process to achieve more depth and layers on your prints. Continue reading “Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 7–11”

Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 12–14

with Leah Klister
Thursday & Friday, July 25 & 26; 10am–4pm CT

Explore a new art medium in MCBA’s print studio! Experience relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop. Learn all of the steps, from copying your design to the printing block to signing your name on your finished prints. Practice carving your block, printing with a baren (a smooth pad used to apply pressure when printing) by hand, and how to repeat the carving and printing process to achieve more depth and layers on your prints.

The instructor will demonstrate each step of the process and provide one-to-one instruction along the way. Students will print by hand using a baren to make their set of prints, but they will also see a demonstration of the Vandercook press and pull a print or two with assistance. At the end of the workshop, students will share about their projects with each other and any adult caregivers who arrive for pick-up ten minutes early. Continue reading “Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 12–14”

Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 15–18

with Leah Klister
Thursday & Friday, August 1 & 2; 10am–4pm CT

Explore a new art medium in MCBA’s print studio! Experience the process of relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop. Learn all steps of the process from transferring your design to the printing block to signing your first edition of prints. Instruction will cover methods for turning your design into an image for woodcut printing, carving techniques, printing with a baren (a smooth pad used to apply pressure when printing) by hand, and how to repeat the carving and printing process to achieve more depth and layers on your prints. Continue reading “Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 15–18”