Printmaking at home: printing without a press

What is the course about?

The online workshop will show you how to set up a print space at home and will introduce to you how to create
monoprints using simple materials and equipment. You will be be guided in how to use different papers and inks to get
the best prints by hand. With reference to other artists and printmakers you will learn various monoprinting
techniques that you can expand and develop. These will include direct draw, subtractive and additive printing as
well as printing from textured surfaces. You will be encouraged to explore and experiment to find ways of working
that suit you and enable you to make your own beautiful prints.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- Setting up a home working print studio
- Tools, materials and resources
- The use of rollers and brushes to make a ‘one off’ monoprint
- Direct draw, subtractive and additive monoprinting techniques.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Set up a workspace to print at home in a safe way
- Demonstrate 3 different monoprinting techniques
- explain tools and materials required for monoprinting
- Use rollers, brushes and rags to make marks and produce prints
- Produce final prints onto paper by hand
- Describe the different types of paper used and the different results that can be achieved.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced printmakers and artists who want to know how to start printing at home.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

This is a live online workshop. At the beginning of each session we will begin by looking at examples of work by
different artists that will then inform your printmaking work. You will be encouraged to discuss the prints made
and ask questions about techniques. There will be demonstrations in each session of the techniques and how to
print them. We welcome students to ask questions and contribute to discussions, discuss your work with the
tutor and share your work with the group. Handouts and resources can be accessed via a course Google
classroom that you will have access to throughout the duration of the course.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

This course is about making the most of what you already have at home however some items are essential. To
be able to fully participate please ensure you have:

- An ink roller – this can be a basic hard rubber roller (approx. 100mm)
- Paper – any lightweight (less than 160gsm) smooth paper (even ordinary copy paper is fine)
- Printing inks – at least 2 colours. The tutor will be using Cranfield safe wash oil based inks but will discuss and do some demos with basic water based block printing inks which are easiest to clean and have no smell.
- Something to roll your ink onto – a flat piece of plastic is ideal but acetate or any laminated or smooth cleanable surface is fine.
- Newspapers
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- Pencils or biro
- Masking tape (or any sticky tape)
- Rags, old cloth
- selection of Paintbrushes (or an old toothbrush)
- Scissors/cutting knife

Printmaking can be messy so please cover the table/ working surface you are working on.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

For a full list of our online courses and workshops please visit www.citylit.ac.uk.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday
to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00.
See the course guide for term dates and further details
Was this information useful? If not, please let us know how it could be improved by emailing getintouch@citylit.ac.uk
Enrolment and Information line: 020 Information and Advice line: (telephone temporarily unavailable)
Department (telephone temporarily unavailable) Textphone: Email: visualarts@citylit.ac.uk.