In this one-day workshop, designed to suit both beginners and those with some experience, 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. More experienced participants will also have the opportunity to learn about and explore reduction printmaking and other multicolor techniques.

We’re so excited to welcome Brian Tibbets back to the farm! His teaching style makes print-making accessible to the brand-new beginner (we got our logo out of the beginner class last year!), and he also has a great depth of knowledge to offer up for more experienced print-makers. If you came last year, gather up your supplies and come on back for part two!

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.

A note on materials: There are two ticket types for this class, reflecting different material fees. Please read the following and choose the ticket that reflects what you will need to participate in the workshop! (Brian works hard to purchase materials from local stores where possible, and provides them at cost—and it’s also helpful if beginners are all working with the same tools—so please don’t purchase anything on your own for this class! )

Ticket 1 includes all the materials you will need for this class—linoleum blocks, ink, and paper for printing, carving tools, bench hook, printing equipment, paper, ink, etc. All beginners, and experienced folks who need supplies, should purchase this ticket. 

Ticket 2 includes linoleum blocks, ink, and paper for printing, and is intended for experienced print-makers who have a set of equipment they are comfortable with. Again, please do not purchase materials for this class. If you need just one or two things, email abbyb@pnfarm.com and she can put an a special order with Brian for what you need! Those of you who attended last year’s class should plan to bring the tools you received last spring. 

We have scholarship funds available. Please email arts@pnfarm.com if  cost is a barrier!

We’ll provide coffee, tea, water and light breakfast munchies. Please bring a lunch, walking shoes if you want to get out on the farm during a break, and a readiness to learn and get messy!

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 primarily 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.