Drypoint is a printmaking process in which a design is drawn on a plate with a sharp, pointed needle-like instrument, and in this class you will learn how to do this and prepare your image for printing. This drypoint printmaking course will introduce students to the essentials of intaglio printmaking processes. Students will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of methods and techniques using surfaces such as persepx or aluminium that can be employed to produce unique works in monochrome and colour.
We’ll be looking at how to use an actual needle and scribing our image onto a piece of plastic as an alternative method of etching then we will be looking at how to ink plate and then using both inking and a process called monotype inking where we can add a bit of colour to the image before printing.
This course is ideal for beginners as well as those who wish to refresh their dry point skills and learn from a professional artist. Once completed students will be able to progress to more advanced techniques.
Each session, students will be introduced to various aspects in relation to the course. The sessions will explore a combination of contextual references and practical exercises and demonstrations, which include:
1. Essential Drypoint – General introduction overview of relevant Intaglio techniques which will be considered and explored during the course. Following a practical demonstration by the tutor. They will then be shown how to use an etching needle to incise a small zinc or acrylic plate with an image. They will then apply ink to their plate in the Intaglio manner to produce a ‘drypoint’ print from damped prepared paper using the action of an etching press.
2. The tutor will demonstrate the introduction of plate tone to the inking and wiping process and introduced to other methods for incising marks on drypoint plate.
