Category: Printing

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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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Art Practice Circle: October

with Laura Brown
Tuesday, October 3; 7–8:30pm CT

Art Practice Circle meets virtually and offers a friendly community space to listen and share about artmaking. The benefits of connecting with fellow makers are multiple: to inspire and encourage one another, to be an audience for one another’s work and creative process, and to move our work forward by talking about it out loud. This monthly gathering will provide time for each person to share about their work—a particular work in progress, an idea that needs exploring, or a struggle with a specific work—as well as a conversation about what inspires us and strategies for tracking progress. Recommended for those who practice some form of book arts (book/paper/print) or related process (such as calligraphy, papercutting, marbling, etc.).

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Introduction to Screen Printing

with Ben Etten and Michelle Lee Lagerroos
Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19; 6–9pm 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.

Create your design positives using hand-drawn artwork and/or cut paper stencils. Bring your sketches and ideas to the workshop. Final designs should fit on a letter-sized sheet of paper (maximum width 8.5 inches) and may include up to two colors. Continue reading “Introduction to Screen Printing”

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Copyright 101: Rights and Permissions for Artists

with Suzanne Glémot
Tuesday, October 10; 7–9pm CT

Publishing is essentially the activity of making information available to the public, whether for sale or free of charge. Depending on their context, art practices like printing and calligraphy can be considered forms of publishing. Because of copyright, artists working in these techniques are responsible for securing formal permission to use and work with text and/or images not originally their own.

In this virtual workshop, we’ll dig into copyright as it works in the US, what it protects, and when artists need to obtain permissions from copyright owners. We’ll cover the public domain, the fair use doctrine, and unusual cases like song lyrics and epigraphs. We’ll also walk through how to request permission for copyrighted material from authors or publishers. Participants will come away from this session with a base of knowledge and resources towards addressing copyright in their future projects. Continue reading “Copyright 101: Rights and Permissions for Artists”

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The Stenciled Image

with Stephanie Wolff
Wednesday, October 11; 5–8pm CT

Stenciled artwork generally breaks down an image into its most essential parts. Think of graffiti artists whose spray-painted graphics use stencils for making quick, repeatable images. In this workshop we will cover a basic method of creating and using stencils to make multiple copies on paper. Our focus will be on learning the general mechanics of stenciling. The instructor will focus on the use of acrylic ink for stenciling and will show demos of other mediums (not including spray painting). Additionally, the use of jigs to get good registration both of the image and its placement on the paper will be addressed. This one-session workshop will provide a good basis for further experimentation afterward.  Continue reading “The Stenciled Image”

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Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (October)

with Bethany Rahn
Thursdays: October 12 & 19; 6–9pm 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 (October)”

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Letterpress: Reduction Block Printing

with Mary Bruno
Saturday, October 14; 10am–4pm CT

Reduction block printing is an image-making process where multiple colors are letterpress printed from one linoleum block to create a single image with vibrant color and depth.

Experience reduction block printing on the Vandercook with Mary Bruno of Bruno Press (St. Joseph, Minnesota)! Mary will share examples of her work, which demonstrate a wide range of possibilities in reduction block printing. Learn how to simplify an image for greatest success and how to transfer it onto a linoleum block. Carve your block and create a plan for each color or layer of printing in a minimum of three stages. Instruction will also cover strategies for planning the size of your reduction block in relation to the size of your paper, registration, and other tips and tricks for successful reduction block printing on a flatbed cylinder press. Come ready to have fun and make prints! Continue reading “Letterpress: Reduction Block Printing”

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Letterpress 4: Editioning

with Bethany Rahn
Saturday, October 21; 10am–4pm 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”