During the beginning of this year, I started teaching a printmaking class at the Philadelphia Sketch Club (PSC). Before I began teaching at the PSC, I volunteered to help them restore their printmaking studio, located in the basement of the building. With the help of the club and its volunteers, we were able get the studio up and running again.
To give a little history about the organization, the Philadelphia Sketch Club was founded in 1860 by a group of students from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art (PAFA). It's America's oldest art club. It started off as only a men's "sketching" club, particularly for
students from PAFA who wanted more art opportunities. Today, the club is open to all different types of people, of identities and artistic backgrounds. The club has offered printmaking classes, particularly Intaglio etching, since the 1880s when the club found a printmaking press in1883. After acquiring this press, a class was started with former member, Walter Dunk, in charge. Other notable etchers of the time who were members of the sketch club included Peter Moran, Joseph Pennell, and Stephen Parrish. The previous instructor before me was Betty Macdonald, who taught classes at the sketch club for around 20 years, and is a member of both the Philly Sketch Club and the Plastic Club.
Along with the help of Tiger (Director of workshops), Josie (Gallery Manager), and Tom (House Manager), I was able to get the printmaking studio up and running again. After cleaning up the studio, we worked together to create an inventory, supply list, and budget. However, before we could start on that process, we had to decide what medium of printmaking I would be teaching for now. Printmaking can be a very expensive art form, with a lot of supplies/resources needed depending on the type you work with. We decided to go with drypoint, a form of intaglio printmaking, such as etching. However, unlike etching, drypoint does not require a chemical process, which is more dangerous, more expensive, and requires more resources and proper ventilation. One of our Board Directors, Clayton, is working on a solution to that chemical process, so we can eventually have workshops using a non-toxic form of etching.
Once the studio was all set up, we officially opened up classes for drypoint printmaking. I am now in the Philly Sketch Club's printmaking studio every week on Saturday from 1:00 - 4:00PM. We began advertising the class through a page on our website dedicated to the workshop, created by Tiger. I then created a flyer to be both digitally and physically distributed.
The class consists of an introduction lesson in printmaking, and then drypoint specifically. Then we move onto preparing the plate, which takes around two hours of class. Students have to create their design, transfer the design onto their plate, and carve the plate. Next, we ink the plate, prepare the printmaking paper, and finally print!
For the first class, students only have enough time to create one print. Printmaking is a time consuming process, especially when you have to create your plate as well. If you would like to create more than one print, you can come to another class. Anyone who would prefer to do their own work and not participate in the class, is welcome to as well. However, you may have to purchase your own materials depending on the type of printmaking you intend to work in. Materials that are available in the club are free to use, except for printmaking paper and plates.
For more information about the workshop check out our printmaking webpage!
Process of a drypoint print (design by Marybeth Gasman).
Some of my first students included Fatu, Edward, Marybeth, and Brian who created the lovely prints you can see displayed down below. Except for Edward, all of them had little to no experience in printmaking. They had a wonderful time and loved learning about the printmaking process!
Students, Edward and Fatu, sketching designs for their drypoint plates.
Students, Marybeth and Brian, carving their plates.
(From top left to bottom right) Finished Prints.
If you want to see more of our printmaking studio and students check out my instagram!
People from all different artistic backgrounds should feel welcome to join. Whether you're an experienced artist, or have never picked up a pencil in your life, this is for you! If you're interested in printmaking, please sign up with the link down below!
A special thanks to Tiger, Josie, Tom, Clayton, Betty, Bill, and the entire board of directors of the Philly Sketch Club!
Original Philadelphia Sketch Club printmaking press from 1883.
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