Printmaking Studio
A communal, collaborative space where you can hone your skills.
The printmaking process is set and overseen by practicing artist-printmaker tutors. They bring their expertise and inspiration, their experience and real-life printmaking methodology, and are there to help bring your best creative ideas to fruition. The studio contains a wide range of equipment that are integral to printmaking and can help you greatly in your creative process.
The Studio
Main Room
The focus of the room is centred on a large, well-lit tabletop space with seating, big enough for all students to gather round with the tutor, to share conversation, look at work being made and take part in group crits. The table space also provides a good solid surface for making work on alongside the other workstations. The rest of the room is taken up with process-based equipment such as presses.
Secondary Rooms
In addition to the main space, we have 3 smaller rooms:
- A washout room for cleaning screens
- A dry room where the aquatint box can be used safely and heating processes such as smoking plates.
- An etching room – with an extraction unit for acids, and a cleaning station.
The Equipment
Presses
- 1 x large standing platen press, used for printing from woodblock or lino.
- 2 x large roll presses, used for printing etchings, lithographs, dry points, monoprints and collagraphs etc.
Tools
- Etching hand tools plus hotplates for working with etching grounds etc.
- Large exposure unit with vacuum for screen and photo processes such as cyanotype.
- Large standing drying rack, and 2 x suspended racks.
- Hand tools and Dremel cutting tools for wood and lino.
- Grained zinc plates and related tools, inks, tusche etc. For making lithographs
Workspaces
- Multiple screenprint stations with hinges for individual screens.
- Individual workspaces for up to 12 students.
- Large glass area for mixing inks.
- Large TV presentation screen for looking at artists work etc.
- 3 x Mac minis, with large monitors and Adobe creative suite plus a printer and scanner.
Materials
- All basic papers, drawing materials and inks supplied – no need to bring your own.
- Clean dry paper cutting space with tools and storage drawers.
- All plate, lino, and wood blocks etc. provided to complete a course.
- T shirts and tote bags for when the course requires these.
- Digital print acetates and papers.
- Gloves/ masks/ aprons and cleaning solutions and guidance.
- Silk screens mostly A3 (some larger) and all photo transfer materials/ bespoke inks etc
- Large sinks, handwashing soaps and further cleaning equipment.
- Squeegees, sponges, ink mixers etc. for working with screenprints.
Study Printmaking at City Lit
At City Lit, we offer a wide range of printmaking courses, aimed at catering for your interest whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced artist.
