June 2016
Screenprinted t-shirts (2-week class)
In this class you will learn the basics of how to create a silkscreen for printing your own t-shirts. The first week will focus on creating your design, and you will learn how to make silk screen positives. In the second week you will expose a screen and print your shirts with your own one-colour design.
Three shirts are provided as part of the class, and you are welcome to bring up to three more of your own to print, if you like.
Find out more »Collagraphs (2-week class)
Collagraph is a printmaking method in which a collage is constructed onto a heavy card using paper, glue, and sand or grit, and then used as a matrix for printing. It's a satisfyingly tactile way to create a printing plate, and textures as subtle as simple torn or cut pieces of paper can achieve beautifully rich and varied printed marks. In the first week we will focus on creating the plate, and in the second week you will learn how to ink and press your plate and will make an edition of at least four prints.
This class runs for two weeks on Thursday evenings, June 23 and 30, from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
All materials are provided, including paper. No printmaking experience is necessary. This is an easy and fun introduction to printmaking, particularly for people who enjoy working in collage or cut paper.
Find out more »July 2016
Lino block printing (2-week class)
In this class you’ll learn the basics of carving and printing a relief print from a linoleum block. You will design and carve your own block and learn how to print it by hand as well as on a press, and will leave the class with an edition of six completed prints. You will have the option to print your block in one colour, or to try selectively inking your block to make a two colour print in one press run.
This class runs Tuesday evenings for two weeks, July 5 and 12, from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
No printmaking experience is required, and all materials, including paper, are provided.
Please come with an idea or an image in mind for you print. We will be working on 7.5 by 10 inch blocks.
Find out more »Bookbinding: Longstitch 1
In this simplest form of Longstitch binding, folded sections of pages are sewn together by linking the sections through a slotted cover sheet to create a pleasing staggered exposed sewing along the spine. Stitching wrapped around the head and foot of the paper spine gives the beaded look of a thread headband at the edge of the spine. We will finish off our books with a decorative folded paper slipcover.
All materials are provided. No previous bookbinding experience is necessary.
Find out more »Custom letterpress posters
In this fun class you will learn the basics of setting type, designing and printing your own 9x12" letterpress poster. Use our collection of wood and metal types, ornaments, and fun coloured papers to create your own unique design. You will print six posters (up to five additional posters can be printed for $4 each).
All materials are provided, and no printmaking experience is necessary.
Find out more »Two colour screenprints (2-week class)
In this class you will learn the basics of how to create a two-colour silkscreen print on paper. We will cover: making positives or transparencies, exposing images on a screen, how to register (line up) your printing, and pulling prints.
This class runs for two weeks on Wednesday evenings, July 13 and 20, from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
All materials are provided, including paper, and you will make an edition of six prints.
Find out more »Bookbinding: hard cover stab binding (2-week class)
Stab binding is one of the simplest and earliest forms of bookbinding, using single sheets in which holes are stabbed or drilled and sewn on the outside using a variety of traditional stitch patterns.
In this class you will learn how to make a hard cover with a hinge, and create the decorative binding.
This class will run for two weeks on Monday evenings, July 18 and 25, from 7 to 9pm.
All materials are provided, including paper, and you will leave the class with a finished book.
Find out more »Persian calligraphy
Learn the beautiful art of Persian calligraphy with guest instructor Tina Rouhandeh! In this class you will learn how to use a hand cut reed pen and ink to create flowing, lyrical letterforms. You will practice traditional techniques that will improve your hand lettering and brush work skills. For this class, the reed pen and paper surface will be prepared in advance for you, but you'll also learn how to coat the paper and cut the reed pen so that you can practice later at home.
All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary.
Find out more »August 2016
Bookbinding: Coptic
Coptic binding is an ancient bookbinding method in which folded sections of paper are sewn together between rigid covers to create a decorative chain stitch across the exposed spine. This is an ideal method for binding albums and sketchbooks, as the book can be laid open entirely flat.
In this introductory class you will create a book using cover boards that have been prepared in advance. You will choose from a selection of cover boards culled from vintage books, and combine them with high quality bookbinding paper to make your unique journal or sketchbook. All materials, including paper, are provided, and you will leave the class with a finished book.
Find out more »Block printed t-shirts
In this class, students will create richly coloured prints on t-shirts using linoleum, woodblocks, rollers, and letterpress blocks. We will cover some of the challenges of printing on fabric versus paper, and use pre-cut blocks and other print matrices to experiment with printing both by hand and in a printing press. You will go home with a beautifully printed shirt!
Find out more »