Introduction to Printmaking

Course review:

Introduction to Printmaking is a complete distance learning programme based upon our popular printmaking workshops and classes, allowing you to develop your skill and ideas through structured projects, all in the comfort of your own home.

Based on our 'live' printmaking class and workshops, our flagship Introduction to Printmaking distance learning course is the perfect first step to explore the printmaking art or to develop new printmaking techniques for the experienced printmaking artist.

Discover how to become a printmaker and make exciting art prints for your own enjoyment or to sell.

Our popular Introduction to Printmaking distance learning course can be enrolled on at any time of year and will get you producing amazing prints in no time at all.

Flexible Tuition and Support

As practising printmaking artists, we understand that every student needs to develop at their own pace, so both our classes and printmaking distance learning courses are carefully designed to reflect this.

Once enrolled, you will be assigned a personal tutor to answer any questions that you may have via telephone or email. We will help you get the most from your printmaking studies and to achieve the results that you want.

• Enrol any time of the year,
• start immediately
• No entry requirements!
• No exams!
• Flexible optional assessmenrts
• Certificate on completion of course
• Study at your own pace
• Developed from successful printmaking classes and our most popular lesson plans
• personal tutor support via phone and email
• Starter-Pack of materials and tools included* (UK only)
• Exclusive tuition from printmaker Susan Yeates
• Clear step by step instructions including colour photograhs of all techniques covered

FREE 40 page Ebook - 'Profit from Printmaking' - 40+ page e-book that explores how printmaking can be turned from an enjoyable and relaxing hobby into a lucrative business, selling prints and printed products whether on the internet or via traditional means. This e-book is the perfect accompaniment to the ‘Introduction to Printmaking’ Distance Learning Course. It will help to think of creative ways of using your prints for gifts, cards or selling directly.

'Appendix 1 - Example Work' - showing student and example work by printmaker Susan Yeates in progress to help demonstrate exactly how the techniques can be used in practice to create exciting original prints.

10 minute DVD demonstrating hand burnishing a linocut print and back drawing for monoprint! This 10 minute demonstration video helps to bring to life some of the printing techniques taught as part of the course. Learn with Susan as she takes you through step-by-step two of the techniques taught in the course, how to hand burnish a linocut and create a monoprint through 'back-drawing'.

Full of useful tips and clear instructions these two demonstrations are a welcome addition to the distance learning course.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?The course is genuinely designed for artists of all levels of experience from the complete beginner to the experienced artist looking to explore a new way to develop their work.

In addition, all of the printmaking methods explored will allow you to create truly unique artistic effects without the need for complex or expensive printmaking tools.

What Subjects Does The Course Cover?The course is a complete distance learning programme and covers everything from the history of printmaking to the main printmaking methods that you can employ in a near limitless number of ways to create exciting printmaking art prints.

Printmaking techniques that you will learn and explore through the course include:

Monoprinting - The course will cover 4 different ways of exploring this simple painterly technique of printmaking to create unique one-off printmaking art prints.

Collograph - This printmaking technique uses collage and found objects to create and print very textural and free prints.

Linocut - Explore relief printing methods using linoleum as the block.

Woodcut - Learn relief printing techniques using wood as the block.

Advanced Relief Printing - Includes using the reduction technique and printing more than one colour using the 'key block' system.

Experimental Relief Printing - Experimenting and developing relief printing further including different materials for the block, stencils and incorporating monoprint.

Drypoint - A simple intaglio form of printing that can be printed by hand. This is a very linear printmaking method which the course explores using simple perspex sheets to draw into.

Simple screenprinting - The course explores 3 different simple methods to create stencils for use with screenprinting, including found objects, paper stencils and hand-painted stencils. We show you how to use screen printing to achieve exciting effects from your screen printing at home.

Tuition and Support
Once enrolled, you will be assigned a personal tutor to answer any questions that you may have via telephone or email. We will help you get the most from your printmaking studies and to achieve the results that you want.

Course Assessment
There is a selection of assignments throughout the course that can be submitted for assessment and feedback, to help you progress and develop your printmaking.

For students who complete the assignments to the required standard, a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ will be issued.

Time Guide
Though you can study at entirely your own pace, typically students are able to complete the printmaking course in 9-12 months by studying 6-8 hours per week.

Materials Upon enrolment you will be sent the course literature and printmaking materials, including your Distance Learning Study File and your printmaking tools starter pack (UK only), containing:

1 x Lino cutter set
2 x 6x4 Linoleum blocks
2 x 6x4 Japanese Plywood
1 x Etching needle
4 x Water-based relief printing inks (250ml bottle)
1 x Oil-based etching ink (75ml tube)
1 x Palette knife
1 x Roller (9cm)
2 x 6x4 perspex sheets for drypoint
1 x 6x4 glass sheet for monoprinting