Six week intensive course covering several key techniques
This introductory course is designed to encourage beginners and intermediate printmakers to develop new or further skills in the field of printmaking. During this 6 weeks course participants will be guided through different printmaking techniques such as Monoprinting, Drypoint, Linocut, Chine-collé and Screenprint asa well as the multitude of possibilities for combining them in one or multiple prints.Perfect for artists working in other disciplines who want to expand their practise or for those looking for a fun, productive and energetic and creative course.

Dates: Wednesday evenings, starting May 23rd for 6 weeks
Times: 6pm – 9pm
Fee: £175
Location: BPW, Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2ED
Booking: bpw.org.uk/ or call 02890 231 323

Join established printmaker and long-time member Ivan Frew on this weekend workshop in Collograph Printing.
Collographs are the printed results from a ‘collage plate’. This course will focus on painterly printmaking techniques, perfect for creating expressive, textured images with a depth of colour and variety of mark-making.

From 10am until 4pm each day you will learn how to create professional printmaking plates using safe, inexpensive and easily obtainable materials, printed with high quality printmaking inks and handmade papers. Come prepared with your sketches and inspirational images, and recreate an original work or an edition of prints to give away as presents.

Dates: 12th & 13th of May
Times: 10am – 4pm daily
Fee: £125
Location: BPW, Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2ED
Booking: bpw.org.uk/ or call 02890 231 323

Lino-cutting is a highly accessible relief printmaking method that many of us may remember trying in school. This course is aimed at complete beginners and those seeking a refresh of the basics. It’s an great way to use your drawing or design skills in a different & tactile medium.

Linocuts are a form of relief printmaking, meaning the lines or areas cut away using tools do not receive any ink while the flat uncut surface forms the printed areas of the artwork. The beauty of a reduction linocut is that it allows participants to use a single block of lino to create a print with multiple colours. The maker starts by drawing up their image or design and cutting away any areas that they wish to remain white when printed. The lino is then inked up with the first colour and several copies are then printed. This will be an ‘edition’ or set of prints.

After cleaning, the lino is then carved again, meaning these areas removed this time will not receive any more ink & will remain the original colour they have been printed. The printing process is then repeated with a different colour resulting in a colourful print without needing to use several lino blocks.

Linocuts are hugely versatile as they can be used to create a simple, effective single colour design or a detailed and complex multi-coloured print. For the purpose of this one-day course, prints will contain a maximum of 2 – 3 colours but for those wishing to continue developing their work afterward, reduction linocuts can be made to incorporate many colours.

Suzannah O’ Reilly is a hugely prolific artist, printmaker and tutor. She is co-founder/ co-director of Parallel Editions, a fine art print editioning company.

Dates: Sun 29th April
Times: 10am – 6pm
Fee: €75 with 15% discount available to students/seniors/those working less than 25 hrs per week
Location: Limerick Printmakers, Bridgeland House, 3 Johns Square, Limerick
Booking: Contact LP on +353 (0) 61 311806/email limerickprintmakers@gmail.com
Website: facebook.com/pg/limerickprintmakers/

The aim of these Drawing Classes is to give participants of all abilities a deep understanding of how to create lifelike and hyper-realistic portraits, from basic methods to advanced drawing techniques and theory to add depth, volume, atmosphere and life to portrait drawings. Techniques on how to render realistic hair and how to create complex textures like skin with a layering approach, tonal value relationship, drawing details and working with different kinds of contrast to achieve a balanced visual interest in drawing are part of the course led by Irish hyper-realist graphite Portrait Artist Alan Keane.

Dates: Commencing Saturday 28th April 2018 for six consecutive Saturdays
Times: 10.30am to 1pm
Fee: €275
Location: United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2
Booking: phone Alan on 086 2552418
Website: aka.ie/classes