Linocut Printmaking with mary hamilton

Saturday, May 25, 10 am to 3 pm
Join renowned printmaker, Mary Hamilton, for this workshop on linoleum block printing, or Linocut. This very hands-on process involves a little bit of planning, a little bit of drawing, and a lot of carving. The result - lots of fun and multiple images of your design to keep and to share. All materials are included. No experience needed.
$60 pre-registration required (see form below)
Registration and payment due by May 21.
Linocut, or linoleum block printing, is a fun blend of art (drawing) and craft (carving). It’s a diverse and flexible medium that can range from graphic, single-color designs to subtle and complex interpretations. Beautiful results can be produced with simple, low-tech, and inexpensive tools. Basic tools include a brayer for applying ink to the block, a carved block (linoleum), a baren for hand rubbing the prints, and assorted carving tools. It is also important to have a stable surface on which to carve, because you will be pushing the carving tools away from you on the linoleum (or wood or whatever surface), so you don’t want it to move around. A board with an edge, clamped to a table, works great. For basic linoleum printing, the beginner will carve away anything that is NOT to be printed, much like what you have with a rubber stamp. What is left, the raised surface, is inked. Paper is laid over the surface and rubbed with a baren. This process can be repeated for as many prints as you care to make. By cleaning the surface of the linoleum block, you can change the color of the print.
All workshops are held at
Main Exhibit Gallery's
fully-accessible
Art Center located at the lower level rear of the building at 301 W. Main Street, Ligonier PA
More information: 724-238-2310
Free parking is available at the side of the Gallery on Grant Street, or in front on West Main Street.
Here’s the process, simplified
(using Gremlin as an example):
For a three-color print, where the background would be white (the color of the paper), she will first carve away anything that will remain white. The block is then inked with the first color (usually the lightest color, in this case green) She prints this first color on as many sheets as she hopes to keep, because she won’t be able to print any more images once she starts carving away for the next color.
The block is cleaned and she carves away all the areas that are to remain the first color she printed (green). The block is inked for the next color to print (black). This time, the papers that were already printed and have had time to thoroughly dry, are carefully lined up, or registered, over the block and rubbed with the baren.
If more than two colors were planned, as in most of Mary’s work, the whole process would be repeated for the third, or fourth or fifth color.
Mary Hamilton’s work is mostly multi-color prints. While there are various techniques to achieve this, such as hand-tinting or carving multiple blocks for each color, Mary chooses the reduction method. In a reduction print, the artist develops all colors from the same block.  She must print the entire edition as she works, because the printable area of the single block is carved away, or reduced with each color pass.
Read Mary Hamilton's story and see examples of her work.
REGISTRATION FORM
Linocut Workshop
    Please fill out all spaces below with an asterisk and hit the SUBMIT button.

    The cost is $60 per person.  Class size is limited to 10 participants and pre-registration is with full payment per workshop.*  You're welcome to register a friend, but each participant must register separately ON LINE, please.  Please fill out the information below to register. 
    Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. Call 724-238-2310 to make payment by credit card OR mail checks to Main Exhibit Gallery,
    301 W Main St., Ligonier, PA 15658.
    You may also pay in person at     Main Exhibit Gallery & Art Center during regular business hours, (Tues-Sat 11-5)

    ***Six participants are required to hold this workshop. If we do not have the minimum participation, your payment will be refunded.
    Payment is refunded if  the class is cancelled.