OFFSITE: Woodcut Printmaking, With or Without a Press

OFFSITE: Woodcut Printmaking, With or Without a Press

Adult Course | Registration opens 2/4/2025 7:00 AM MST

200 Grant St Denver, CO 80203 United States
203 Printroom
Beginner, Intermediate
3/3/2025-3/24/2025
5:30 PM-8:30 PM MST on Mon
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$222.00
$188.70
$14.00

OFFSITE: Woodcut Printmaking, With or Without a Press

Adult Course | Registration opens 2/4/2025 7:00 AM MST

Using razor-sharp Japanese gouges and knives, carve your image into a solid basswood block, 5 1/2’ x 7 1/2”; ink it, and print it! Bring a sketch of the image that you plan to make a woodcut print of. We will begin with introductions of instructor and students. We will discuss the entire process, beginning with different types of wood, and their pros and cons for printmaking. The instructor will demonstrate how to transfer your drawing to a lightly stained basswood block, and how to cut and gouge into the block safely and effectively to make the optimum image for printmaking. Students will have access to sets of sharp gouges and knives and ink, paper, and equipment to make handsome prints from your drawing. The supplies and equipment use is included in the “fees.” Requirement: Students must bring a sketch that can be transferred to a 5 1/2” x 7 1/2” block.

  • Learning objective:

    By taking this course, students will be able to demonstrate proper printing of a woodcut by: transferring their drawing onto a basswood block carving their image onto their block, safely and carefully, using a knife, gouges, and a bench hook laying a smooth layer of ink neatly onto a glass surface, in preparation for inking their block for printing selecting the proper paper, trimming it to size inking their block, using a brayer (roller) and the proper amount of ink installing the inked block, and paper, into a registration jig, and adhering the paper to the inked block printing the image from their block onto the paper by using a baren or rubbing dowel or printing press studying the print (proof) to see what improvements need to be made to perfect the image altering the proof by using white paint or grease pencil to determine next cuts (optional) making final cuts on the block making final prints, preferably a small edition placing the prints onto the drying rack to dry transporting the prints by using temporary slip sheets placing the prints in a stable place to dry

     

    Experience Drawing is helpful

  • Participants need to bring drawing(s) or sketch(es) to make a woodcut print from.

    Quality woodcut tools and equipment will be available for use.


Keyes, Michael
Michael Keyes

Michael J. Keyes Aurora, CO 720-579-8760. Michael is a painter & woodcut printmaker, & received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree from Wright State University in Dayton, OH, & a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree from Ohio State University in Columbus. His areas of specialty are drawing, painting, and printmaking. He uses pencil drawing as the “entry activity” and basis for painting and printmaking. He enjoys the tactile sensation of carving blocks of wood, & developing the dramatic starkness of imagery in the prints made from them. The woodcut prints range from-black-and-white, colored multi-block, or hand-colored prints. The subject matter of the prints includes winter landscapes, rural and urban scenes & events, & domestic still life scenes. He is a member of Park Hill Art Club, Aurora Artists Guild, Art Students League of Denver, & Red Delicious Press. His recent exhibitions include one-person shows at Red Delicious Press, Kaladi Coffee DU campus, Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) Gallery, & University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Health Sciences Library Gallery. Group Shows include “Traditional Printmaking,” at Core New Art Space, “Gateway to the Rockies” Exhibition at the Aurora History Museum, Members’ Exhibition at the Aurora Cultural Arts District Gallery, “Press Play,” at Lincoln Center for the Arts in Fort Collins, “Pressing Matters,” & “Saving Face” at Art Students League of Denver, Exhibition “528.0”, an exhibition of prints at the Arvada Center for the Arts, in conjunction with “MoPrint” (Month of Printmaking 2020). He won Award of Merit  (shared first place) at the Escalante Canyons Arts Festival, 'Best of Show'" at 'National Arts Program, Front Range Show', & ‘Best of Show’ at the Project Worthmore exhibition, “Our Neighbors, Our Selves".