(Price includes a $50 equipment fee)
Block printing is a relatively low-cost, low-barrier, and easy way to begin making art that is part of a rich tradition of printmaking, spanning multiple cultures throughout the world. From the Japanese woodcut moku hanga prints, depicting the “Floating World” or Ukiyo-e; to the 2000-year history of block printing on fabric in India; to the rich history of etching, wood engraving, and other printmaking techniques employed in Europe since the Renaissance, printmaking continues to be a way to make art accessible to the masses both in terms of owning the finished product and in terms of making the art itself.
In this one-day workshop, you will learn about block printing materials and tools, how to carve a basic image using easy-cut materials, how to carve a more detailed image into a linoleum block, and how to prepare paper and ink to print a numbered edition of a complete work of art.
Students will leave the class with a finished print of their own making, a carved easy cut and a carved lino block for producing numbered editions at home, and all of the equipment necessary to continue on the adventure of block printmaking on their own.
Equipment fee pays for easy cut block, linoleum block, Speedball linoleum cutter with interchangeable tips, bench hook/inking plate, and brayer.
Coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided. Participants should bring a bag lunch and comfortable walking shoes!
About Your Instructor: Brian first began making visual art in his late teens, painting with oils on old vinyl roll-up window blinds found in the closet of his double-studio apartment. He took a handful of painting and mixed-media classes at Pacific Northwest College of Art and Portland Community College, but is primarily self-taught. He has been a part of group exhibitions, juried shows, and solo exhibitions at galleries, coffee shops, and bars around Portland since the late 1980s. He began working exclusively in block printing in the late 2000s. He is also a professional musician and the author of four books of poetry and prose. He works as a nonprofit consultant, grants researcher, and grant writer.