Eastern Connecticut State University | Department of Art & Art History | Fine arts Instructional Center (FAIC) | Department

Office FAIC 317

ART 201: RELIEF PRINTMAKING I | SPRING 2017

Professor: Allison Conley Room: FAIC 247

Email: [email protected] Class Time: MW 12:00-2:45
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 3-5 FAIC 247 January 18- May 3

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An exploration in the techniques of linoleum cuts, collagraph prints and monoprints as means of
aesthetic expression.

CLASS PURPOSE

The purpose of this class is to explore traditional relief printmaking through a critical contemporary
practice. Students will investigate monoprints, collagraphs, and block printing to develop personal
imagery and expand their knowledge of mark making.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, students will have a basic working understanding of monoprints,
collagraphs, and block printing. They will also have practise in the following skills:
Press adjustment, use, and maintenance
General shop etiquette and clean up
Safety issues related to the media
Hand printing
Registration systems
Print editions
Designation of prints and labeling them properly
Basic paper knowledge

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

All techniques will be demonstrated and discussed, allowing time in class for students to be assisted
with the first attempt at the process. Examples from books, slides, previous student work, and
demonstrations will be shown. A class critique will be held at the end of every unit, as well as
individual meetings throughout the semester. Drawing and experimentation will be emphasized as a
critical element throughout the class.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Attendance- Students have an allowance of three absences before their grade will be affected.
Coming to class on time and staying for the duration is part of attendance. Extreme circumstances
such as serious illness or injury can be managed, so long as the student communicates their needs and
is capable of completing the class objectives.

1
 Homework- Students will be asked to complete tasks outside of class, such as collecting materials,
drafting images for projects, and working in the studio after hours. In order to maintain the pace of
the class, it is recommended that you spend approximately 6 hours each week outside of class time
working on your projects.

The studio is open during building hours (M-F, 8am-10pm). You can work anytime there is not a class
using the room.

Enthusiasm, Effort and Participation- Students are expected to be prepared for class, bringing all
needed materials so the pace of work can continue. A positive and driven attitude is essential for
printmaking because the technical aspects can become frustrating. Students must work through
difficulties in order to grow.

Ethics and Classroom Conduct- Cleanliness is essential in printmaking because it can affect your
and your classmates final product. Students must abide by the cleanup standards shown during
demonstrations. The only materials that can leave the room are the ones belonging to the student.
Theft of any kind will not be tolerated and will lead to an expulsion from the studio. Additionally,
image theft and copying of artworks is considered plagiarism and is not tolerated under the Easterns
Academic Misconduct Policy.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Students will receive collective evaluation during a class critique for each section covered (monoprints,
linocuts, collagraphs, independent project). Projects can be redone or expanded upon up until the
submission of the final project. Portfolios will be collected during midterms and students will receive
a tentative grade based on their performance so far. The final grade will be an evaluation of the
exploration and mastery of the basic principles of relief printing observed through a combination of
the various semester projects, the final project, and engagement with the class.

Final Grade Breakdown:

15% Preparedness, participation and attendance

60% Semester projects (monoprints, linocuts, and collagraphs)
25% Final Project

The factors used to determine grades are:

1. Quality of print, including creativity, sensitivity to materials, technical comprehension,

compositional effectiveness, and idea development in relation to the assignment.
2. Quality of the learning process, including risks taken, range of ideas explored, contributions to
class, attendance, effective use of class time, enthusiasm and the amount of work done.
3. Professional demeanor in print studio as evidenced by clean work habits, the proper treatment
of equipment, attention to the studio space, and participation in the final studio clean up
 A = Excellence in all assignments, highly motivated, extremely innovative solutions to projects
B = Above average in all work, demonstrated technical growth and visual maturity
C = Completion of all projects, satisfactory class participation
D = Below average quality in work and/or Incompletes on some projects, inadequate class
participation
F = Poor quality of work and/or Incompletes on many projects, poor class participation, several
absences.

Incompletes: It is the student's responsibility to complete the coursework within the semester the class
is offered. Not finishing the required work within the allotted time frame does not entitle a student to
an incomplete. Incompletes will only be given in cases of extreme emergency.

Department of Art & Art History Policy on Returning Artwork and Other Assignments
Assignments will be returned during scheduled class time, instructors office hours, or by special arrangement
with the instructor. The instructor will hold assignments for six weeks following the end of class.
Assignments not picked up during this period will become property of the university and may be discarded.

Academic Services Center

Students are encouraged to use the support offered by the Academic Services Center (ASC) located on the
ground floor of the Library. Advising Services and tutoring in math, writing, and other subjects, including
supplementary instruction, are available. The ASC also offers assistance in study techniques, time
management and understanding learning styles. Fall 2015 hours: (Tutoring) Sun. 2-9; M.-Th. 9-9, Fri. 9-5., Sat.
Closed; (Advising) M.-Th. 9-7, Fri. 9-5. Sat.-Sun. Closed. For further information call 465-4310 or check the
ASC website at http://www1.easternct.edu/asc/.

Office of AccessAbility Services (OAS)

Eastern Connecticut State University is committed to following the requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are a student with a disability (or think you
may have a disability), and require adaptations or accommodations, or assistance evacuating a building in the
case of an emergency, please contact the Office of AccessAbility Services (OAS) at 860-465-0189 to
discuss your request further. Any student registered with the OAS should contact the instructor as soon as
possible for assistance with classroom accommodations. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive,
and must be communicated through a Letter of Accommodation which is drafted by the OAS. The link to the
OAS website is:http://www1.easternct.edu/accessability/

Academic Misconduct Policy

Students should read and understand Easterns Academic Misconduct Policy, which can be found in the
Eastern Student Handbook at http://kb.easternct.edu/article.aspx?article=1522&p=11. Students are
expected to take personal responsibility for their intellectual work and to respect and acknowledge the ideas of
others. Academic honesty means doing ones own work and giving proper credit to others whose work and
thought are drawn upon. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with what constitutes
academic dishonesty and plagiarism, and to avoid all forms of cheating and plagiarism. Students may not
engage in any form of academic misconduct, and are responsible for learning how to present the ideas of
others in their own work, and avoid all other forms of academic misconduct. For current documentation
practices, consult the instructor or a style manual (e.g., APA, MLA). All violations will be handled under the
procedures established in the Academic Misconduct Policy.
ART MATERIALS (depending on the needs of your project, you may require additional materials)

Item Quant. Description Where to buy (recommended)

Apron 1

Gloves 50 pack Disposable, nitrile is the best material Home Depot, Walmart

Watercolors 1 Basic set, dry or tubes Art supply store

Paintbrushes Variety of sizes art supply store, walmart, home depot

Utility knife 1 Walmart, home depot

Board Matboard, masonite or compressed Art supply store, home depot, or the thick backing from
cardboard (the back of your newsprint pack) one of your sketchbooks

Awl 1 http://www.dickblick.com/items/12843-1000/

Lino cut set 1 Set with various sized gouges http://www.dickblick.com/items/40203-1009

Mylar sheet 1 For registration http://www.dickblick.com/items/55501-1101/

Rives BFK 2 White, 22x30, 250g http://www.dickblick.com/items/10419-1032

paper

Rives BFK 2 Cream, 22x30, 250g http://www.dickblick.com/items/10419-1102

paper

Masa paper 2 21x31, 77g http://www.dickblick.com/items/10409-1003

Japanese 2 Colored, decorative rice paper http://www.dickblick.com/products/awagami-shin-inb

paper Choose 2 colors you like! Very dark colors e-colored-paper/
are not recommended

Stonehenge 2 White, 22x30, 90lb http://www.dickblick.com/items/10423-1002/

paper

Linoleum 4 Unmounted, 8x10 http://www.dickblick.com/items/40404-1112/

This comes in a pack of 12 which you can split with 3

other students

Newsprint 1 ream 12x18 or larger http://www.dickblick.com/items/10204-1007

This comes in a ream of 500 which is more than enough

for 4-5 students to split

Acrylic sheet 1 No bigger than 15X11, sheets can be cut home depot
down Cheapest would be to buy a 18x24 sheet and cut it
into quarter, splitting it between 4 students

Estimated cost ~$100

PROJECTS

Unit Project Description Size Edition

Size

Monoprints Black and white print Watercolor monoprint exploring tone 1

Color print Watercolor monoprint investigating a Plate size 1

range of colors should be
greater than
Transfer drawing (2) Black oil ink transfer investigating 8x10 but no 1
different marks bigger than
11x15 for all
Transfer ghost Printing remains of the transfer from prints 1
the acrylic plate

Experimental mono Use addition, subtraction, stencils, 1

textured materials and offset with
chine colle

Collagraphs 4 small test plates Experiment with carborundum, paste, ~4x6 1

objects, etc

Embrossment Using the same plate, make an 9x12 min. 1

embossment, color, and b&w print |
Color print | | 1
| |
Black and white V V 1

Block Black and white Attempt different texture and tones 8x10 4
Prints using only black ink, hand printed

Multi block Using the b&w as a key plate, add 8x10 4

color through other plates (2)

Reductive Working from a single block, make a 8x10 4

reductive print with 3 colors

Final Independent
experimental project
 TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1 1/16 1/18

No class Intro, syllabus review, material list
HW: order and collect materials

Week 2 1/23 1/25

Demo watercolor monotype Workday
HW: prep plate, make (1) b&w value image to Print b&w monos in class
be printed next class HW (1) color mono

Week 3 1/30 2/1

Demo oil monotype Workday
HW: (2) transfer, (1) ghost HW: finish transfer drawing prints

Week 4 2/6 2/8

Demo experimental monoprinting and chine Workday
colle HW: Finish experimental monotype with chine
HW: Make an experimental monotype with colle
chine colle

Week 5 2/13 2/15

Monotype Crit Demo collagraphs, students make 4 small test
HW: bring board for collagraphs plates
HW: Finish making your test plates

Week 6 2/20 2/22

No class Workday
Students print at least one of their plates
assisted in class
HW: Finish printing test plates in black

Week 7 2/27 3/1

Demo embossment, color, B&W Workday
HW: make collagraph plate which will be HW: (1) of each embossment, color, b&w
printed with the three techniques

Week 8 3/6 3/8

Workday Collagraph Crit/ Midterm, hand in portfolio
HW: finish collographs HW: 8x10 drawing for linocut

Week 9 3/13 3/15

No class No class

Week 10 3/20 2/22

Demo linocuts and block printing by hand Demo printing an object (no project required)
Methods of registration Workday
Discuss editions HW: work on b&w edition of 4
HW: work on b&w edition of 4
Week 11 3/27 3/29
Workday Demo multi block printing
HW: finish b&w edition of 4 Using the press
Registration
Key block offset onto other blocks
HW: work on multi block print

Week 12 4/3 4/5

Workday Workday
HW: work on multi block print edition HW: finish multi block print edition
Bring 8X10 drawing for next print

Week 13 4/10 4/12

Demo reductive block Demo printing on fabric (no required project)
HW: work on reductive print edition Workday

Week 14 4/17 4/19

Workday Lino Crit
HW: finish all block prints Set parameters for your own final

Week 15 4/24 4/26

Workday Workday

Week 16 5/1 5/3

Workday Final Crit

Week 17 5/8
Studio clean up
Pick up portfolio

*** Demos will not be repeated if you miss a class except in extreme circumstances ***