Printmaking Techniques available at Eastgate Studio

Relief

The design is drawn then carved into a printing block. The block is inked and pressed onto paper to make a print using our Albion Flatbed Press. The print will reveal the raised surface of the carved block and will be a mirror image of the printing block. 

Intaglio

The image is produced by incising into the printing plate.  The plate is inked and pressed onto paper to make a print using our Hawthorne Etching Press. Our workshops include:

• Acid etching uses chemical action to produce incised lines in a metal printing plate which then hold the applied ink and form the image.

• Drypoint: the design is drawn on a plate with a sharp, pointed needle-like instrument. 

Collagraph

The print plate is made from an assembly of materials, collaged into an image and printed either as a relief print or intaglio.

Botanical Printmaking

Plant material is pressed and dried and placed onto an inked plate, then passed through the press as either an intaglio print onto damp paper or a stencil print onto dry paper.   

Screenprinting

Using a screen made from fabric stretched tightly over a frame.

• Stencil: the non-printing areas on a fabric screen are blocked out by a stencil. A squeegee is used to force ink through the non-blocked areas, onto the paper.

• Photo-screenprint: A light-sensitive resist is applied onto the screen which is then developed as a photograph creating a stencil on the fabric of the screen (additional charge).

Monoprint and Monotype

A form of printmaking where the image can only be made once, unlike most printmaking which allows for multiple originals. This could include open screenprinting, a collagraph or a one-off print, where an image is produced on a flat surface and then transferred to paper. The surface can be inked up using a roller and the image produced by selectively wiping away the ink with rags, brushes, scrapers or other items.

Simplified Lithography

The design is drawn onto a foil printing plate using a litho crayon or other greasy substance.  The plate is treated with gum arabic and phosphoric acid (Coca Cola) and passed through a press onto printmaking paper.

Membership

Your Membership gives access to

• Sales of your prints through Eastgate Gallery.

• Equipment and press hire: £10:00 per session (up to 3 hours).

• Studio workshop materials £5.00 (see fair usage policy).

• Print club: £15.00 (Including support and short demos by Susan Leeson).

• 10% discount on printmaking workshops

• Framing facilities and support

Equipment and Press Hire

• Albion press, screenprint/monoprint work-station: £10.00 up to 3 hours.

• Etching press and work-station: £10.00 up to 3 hours.

• Screenprint screens: one month free then £1 per day.

Print Club, Wednesdays 11am-2pm 

£15.00 for up to 3hrs (includes short demos by Susan).

The Print Club offers the opportunity to work as part of a small supportive group at all levels of skill.  Open access to Eastgate Studio’s printmaking facilities are provided with help and advice from Susan, our residential printmaker.  Print Club members work independently on their own projects.

Materials to bring:  Please bring your own materials and tools to the studio. A range of materials, tools and paper can be purchased from the gallery shop. We also offer a “studio materials” option so printmakers can try before they buy.

Thursday Printmaking Workshops,

11am-1:30pm: £55, 2 ½ hours (10% discount to members).

We offer a range of bespoke workshops for beginners to professional printmakers with teaching, support, and advice in printmaking processes from Susan, our residential printmaker. Workshops include materials and tools to use during the session and one month access to the studio to complete your project (above prices apply).

Tutor teaching spaces

£45 per 5hr session.

Eastgate Studio is available to hire on Sundays to Tuesdays for artists to offer sessions to their own clients.

Printmaking Materials Shop

Our Gallery Shop offers a range of printmaking materials, tools and surfaces.  Items can be purchased from the Gallery Shop. Our aim is to offer a range of specialist papers and inks.

Framing and Mounting

Eastgate Studio offers help and advice around presenting your work for sale.  We hold a stock of standard sized frames, mounts, and framing facilities.

Fair Usage

·      An ink session is generally up to half a tube of safewash (about 35g).  Please bring your own materials when printing large scale or large amounts.

·      Tissue paper and newsprint are included as part of your membership.  However, purchase is required when using more than a couple of sheets as a printing surface.

·      The blankets on the press are important to the quality of prints.  Please ensure they are protected with newsprint when passing an inked plate through the press.