More Relief Printing: Rhythm, Repetition and Layering

Instructor: Patrick Bulas
Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm
5 weeks: March 3 to March 31
Location: In-person Williams Building room 118
$250
Prerequisite: None

Discover the oldest and most straightforward form of printmaking through expressive, abstract approaches to relief printing. In this explorative, interpretive course, students will engage with the work of master artists such as Käthe Kollwitz and Pablo Picasso while learning to use line and pattern to create dynamic printed images. Working with simple hand gouges, students will carve linoleum blocks and experiment with found objects to introduce unexpected textures and shapes. Guided projects will explore blind-contour portraiture, layering, pattern, and rhythm. No prior drawing or printmaking experience is required.

Syllabus

  • Blind contour Portrait: A blind contour drawing is done by only looking at the subject, and not the paper. The goal is not a realistic likeness, but to improve observation skills. Students will draw a blind contour portrait that will be used to create a relief print.  
  • Responding to music: Students will create drawings based on a variety of music played during the class. A relief print will be created based on the rhythm of line and pattern found in the drawings  
  •  Repeatable patterns: Relief printing has been used for centuries to create patterns on wallpaper, clothing, and paper. Students will work on a small linocut that will be printed multiple times on a large sheet of paper. 
  • Layering: Printing different images on top of each other gives the opportunity to create new and exciting work. Students will create small linocuts that are meant to be printed on top of each other and will be encouraged to share the linocuts with others in the class.  
  • Combining linocut and found objects: Inking and printing found objects gives students an opportunity to introduce unique textures and shapes to their prints. 

Supplies


  • Speedball Linoleum Cutter or Yasutomo Niji Carving Tool Set (7pc) 
  • 5 pieces of unmounted battleship linoleum 6”x 8” (brown or grey) 
  • 6” Speedball Brayer 
  • 75ml tube of black Speedball Water Soluble Block Printing Ink or a 75mL tube of Cranfield Black Caligo Ink 
  • Palette or putty knife 
  • Wooden spoon (for hand printing) 
  • Roll of wax paper 
  • Small piece of Plexiglas or Glass approx. 8” x 11” to roll out ink 
  • Sketchbook (any size-it will be used for note taking and sketching) 
  • Gloves (a box of disposable nitrile gloves is recommended, but a pair of dishwashing gloves would work) 
  • Newsprint pad (18” x 24”) 
  • 5 sheets of Lynx Cover Paper (20” x 26”) 
  • 12” ruler  
  • Pencil  
  • Eraser 
  • Exacto knife 
  • Apron or artmaking shirt (to keep your clothes clean) 

All supplies are available at Hues Art Supply, Art Placement, and the U of S Bookstore 



For a brief list of frequently used suppliers, please see Where can I purchase supplies? on our FAQ page.

Kitchen Litho 1 Kitchen Litho 3 Print 1 Print 2 Print 3 Print 4 Print 5 Print 6