In this Printmaking course, students will learn the craft and conceptual foundations of bookbinding and artists’ books. The course begins with an introduction to materials, form, binding and printing techniques, as well as conversations about and explorations of the book as an art form. Throughout the semester, students will bind several sample books, set type for letterpress printing, experiment with a range of techniques for getting images and text into artist books, look at and discuss contemporary artist books and practices, and begin to develop their visual work in the artist book form. The final project in the class will be an independent book project in which students synthesize their knowledge of materials and form with the development of a conceptual book idea. This course will also have some readings and visits to see artists’ books collections.

In this re-imagined on-line Printmaking course, students interested in design, fine arts and creative writing will learn the basics of relief printmaking through a diverse lens of historical and contemporary letterpress printing concepts and skills. The course will focus on a mode of making that uses modular elements that are alternatives to wood and metal moveable type. They will be used to investigate both formal and experimental typography, visual design, and thoughtful content. Assignments will include making, assembling, and adjusting combinations of modular matrixes to form intelligent compositions, and to realize a number of these in well-crafted multi-color relief prints. The making experience will be suitable for an off-site studio, and will allow each student to produce a variety of exploratory and quality print-based projects around 9” x 12”. It is recommended that the student has a work area approximately 30” x 40”. All printing will be done by hand, and most but not all clean-up will be done with soap and water. Class will begin with how to set up an off-site studio with a predetermined set of tools and materials, with instructions and support for both printing and cleaning your work area. The course is structured with asynchronous making and research tasks, as well as synchronous group meetings that will include demonstrations, critiques and presentations. Students will also have access to shared content across book arts courses - including tutorials and student work - on a book arts “virtual studio” site. A final project will culminate in each student creating and executing a project relevant to their area of study that builds on the skills and ideas developed in the class. It is likely that students will have access to specific letterpress-focused workshops or learning experiences when safe access can resume, even if it is after the Fall 2020 semester.

In this Printmaking course, students will learn conceptual foundations of bookbinding and artists’ books. The course begins with an introduction to materials, form, binding and printing techniques adapted for the off-site studio, as well as lectures, conversations about and explorations of the book as an art form. Throughout the semester, students will bind several sample books, and experiment with a range of techniques for getting images and text into artist books, look at and discuss contemporary artist books and practices, and begin to develop their visual work in the artist book form. The final project in the class will be an independent book project in which students synthesize their knowledge of materials and form with the development of a conceptual book idea. This course will also have some readings, will include visits to see artists’ books collections online, and will share content - including tutorials and student work - on a book arts “virtual studio” site.

In this Printmaking course, students will learn the craft and conceptual foundations of bookbinding and artists’ books. The course begins with an introduction to materials, form, binding and printing techniques, as well as conversations about and explorations of the book as an art form. Throughout the semester, students will bind several sample books, set type for letterpress printing, experiment with a range of techniques for getting images and text into artist books, look at and discuss contemporary artist books and practices, and begin to develop their visual work in the artist book form. The final project in the class will be an independent book project in which students synthesize their knowledge of materials and form with the development of a conceptual book idea. This course will also have some readings and visits to see artists’ books collections.

In this Printmaking course, students will learn conceptual foundations of bookbinding and artists’ books. The course begins with an introduction to materials, form, binding and printing techniques adapted for the off-site studio, as well as lectures, conversations about and explorations of the book as an art form. Throughout the semester, students will bind several sample books, and experiment with a range of techniques for getting images and text into artist books, look at and discuss contemporary artist books and practices, and begin to develop their visual work in the artist book form. The final project in the class will be an independent book project in which students synthesize their knowledge of materials and form with the development of a conceptual book idea. This course will also have some readings, will include visits to see artists’ books collections online, and will share content - including tutorials and student work - on a book arts “virtual studio” site.

In this Printmaking course, students will learn the craft and conceptual foundations of bookbinding and artists’ books. The course begins with an introduction to materials, form, binding and printing techniques, as well as conversations about and explorations of the book as an art form. Throughout the semester, students will bind several sample books, set type for letterpress printing, experiment with a range of techniques for getting images and text into artist books, look at and discuss contemporary artist books and practices, and begin to develop their visual work in the artist book form. The final project in the class will be an independent book project in which students synthesize their knowledge of materials and form with the development of a conceptual book idea. This course will also have some readings and visits to see artists’ books collections.

In this Printmaking course, students interested in design, fine arts and creative writing will learn the basics of letterpress printing using lead and wood type. The course will focus on setting type, visual design on the press, printing on the Vandercook Proofing Press, and developing a thorough knowledge of letterpress through experimentation and practice. Students will work in groups to respond to three visual design challenges over the course of the semester. For the final project, each student will create and execute a printed work that builds on the skills and ideas developed in class.