Art 4323 | Advanced Printmaking

Advanced Printmaking is an exploration of advanced printmaking concepts and techniques. The course emphasizes refining a personal aesthetic using previously learned print processes with plate lithographic techniques.

Below are descriptions of some of the assignments in the course with student work examples.

Black & White, Hard Ground Line Etching, Aquatint Etching

Objective: Students will demonstrate understanding of the basic principles of 16th century line etching through the creation of a copper plate hardground etching subsequently elaborated upon with tonality using aquatint etching. Upon completion of this assignment, you should have a general understanding of how the hard ground, graphite transfer, spray paint aquatint, ferric chloride etching, inks, ink modifications, plate wiping, different printing papers, press, and printing blankets will all affect the outcome of the final print.

Requirements: Full use of the entire picture plane/plate and visually literate compositional structure(s). Preliminary sketches will be done during and after the first class period. Sketches will be transferred to the grounded copper plate. Finished sketches should be the same size as your copper plate, no larger than 6” x 9”, and make full use of the entire picture plane. The completed plate will be printed a minimum of 6 times in total.

Black & White, Aquatint, Drypoint, Hardground Etching, Soft Ground Etching, Photo Xerox Transfer Etching, Mezzotint, roulette, scraping and burnishing

Objective: Students will expand upon the basic principles of etching and drypoint used in intaglio printmaking through a variety of more advanced applications of linear and tonal mark making approaches. Upon completion of this assignment you should have a general understanding of how the spray paint aquatint, acid etching, direct and indirect mark making, inks, ink modifications, plate wiping, different printing papers, press and blankets will all affect the outcome of the final print.

Requirements: Full use of the entire picture plane/plate and visually literate compositional structure(s). Sketches will be transferred to the grounded copper plate. Sketches should be the same size as your copper plate, no less than 6” x 9”, and make full use of the entire picture plane. The completed etching will be editioned to a minimum of 3 prints. (BAT, 1/3, 2/3, 3/3…) Keep in mind you will likely have to pull more than 3 prints to get a clean edition of 3. Expect to pull 5+ prints plus trial proofs.

Exchange Portfolio

Objective: Students will demonstrate planning, preparation, patience, and technical proficiency through execution of a large edition of intaglio prints to be collated as an exchange portfolio with all course members, instructor, and possibly additional art faculty.

Requirements: Full use of the entire picture plane/plate and visually literate compositional structure(s). Imagery will be constructed according to the artists’ aesthetic and conceptual needs, employing intaglio processes learned throughout the course, and editioned to the number of participants in the portfolio at minimum.

Color Intaglio Printing Techniques

Objective: Students will begin to experiment with the basic principles of color printing (A la poupe inking techniques, chine colle, multiple plate printing/registration, stenciling, and rejective viscosity printing, etc.) Upon completion of this assignment, you should have a general understanding of how all previously learned processes (hard and soft ground, aquatint, drypoint, mezzotint) will affect the outcome of your color intaglio print.

Requirements: Full use of the entire picture plane/plate and visually literate compositional structure(s). Sketches will be transferred to the grounded copper plate using methods best suited to the chosen processes. Compositions should be the same size as your copper plate. The completed color etching will be editioned to 3/3. A “Varied Edition” is a possibility depending on the processes employed in the creation of your imagery and editioned to a minimum of 3 prints. (v.e.1/3, v.e. 2/3, v.e. 3/3…)