November 21 | Monotype Printing 101 (1 Day)

You can pay what you can for this 1-day monoprinting class as a donation to Spudnik Press! Your donations will help Spudnik Press with its operational expenses.

Monoprinting is an exciting form of printmaking that favors organic, gestural, textural, and ephemeral marks and imagery. This process is an incredibly immediate, intuitive, and playful way of exploring printmaking. It is well suited to people new to printmaking and artists who typically work with paint, mixed media, or drawing.

This workshop will introduce students to the basics of monotype printing. Throughout the workshop, students will discover ways to create unique prints while learning about the properties of ink, paper, pressure, and how they interact to be able to explore the process of monotype on their own. Printing techniques will include additive and reductive processes, stenciling, and ghost printing. Each student will make three prints to explore these processes.

Please limit one (1) slot and name per email registration. Registration is required to manage the number of participants and prepare the materials needed for the workshop.

About the Campaign:

Make At Spudnik is a series of 1-day workshops that is free and open to the public, as an effort to reach more print-curious audiences and provide an opportunity for interested participants to experience printmaking basics without the financial barrier to learning.

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Educational programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

November 23-24 | WEEKEND INTENSIVE: Block Printing (2 Days)

First 3 students who enroll get a $25 discount off our registration fee ($170 instead of $195)!

Relief prints are created by carving an image into a block of wood or linoleum, adding ink to the surface, and transferring the inked image onto paper.

In this weekend class, students will spend Saturday learning to plan and carve their own blocks. They can take their blocks home to finish carving and bring them back on Sunday to print. Students will learn techniques for inking and printing blocks with a press and by hand, as well as ways to bring color into their work.

First 3 students who enroll get a $25 discount off our registration fee ($170 instead of $195)!

November 24 | Screenprinting on Paper (1 Day)

Screenprinting is an art form known for its bold graphics and versatility. It is an approachable process, yet has many facets to explore and master. This one-day workshop is a great introduction for beginners who do not have experience with screenprinting.

Students will learn the basic skills to get familiar with the screenprinting process, and will be introduced to a variety of possible applications or projects that will offer an exploration of ways to create screenprints from drawings, digital designs, and found or photographic imagery.

To further develop their skills, students may continue their screenprinting journey at Spudnik Press by booking Private Lessons or enrolling in our multi-week screenprinting classes.

November 29 | Risography 101 (1 Day)

The Risograph is an automated duplicator from Japan that efficiently produces offset-like prints in a variety of saturated colors. Though not originally intended for artistic application, the machine has gained traction (and notoriety) in small-press culture for its distinctive effects and efficiency—as well as for being rather finicky.

This workshop will walk students through the fundamentals of risography for bookmaking and fine art printing. Students will learn techniques and best practices for reproducing imagery, giving consideration to ink density, drying time, paper choices, registration, and patience. Students will become acquainted with the mechanics of the printer and learn basic maintenance, including how to change the master roll and a drum’s ink tube. Everyone will leave with an individually designed two-layer print.

Students will receive risography authorization and an Open Studio coupon, redeemable for one complimentary Open Studio session within the following 60 days. 

December 1 | Drypoint Printing (1 Day)

You can pay what you can for this 1-day class as a donation to Spudnik Press! Your donations will help Spudnik Press with its operational expenses.

This workshop is great for ambitious beginners curious about intaglio techniques. The drypoint process covers the basic skills needed to become familiar with etching and other intaglio processes, and therefore would set students up for further success with intaglio in the future.

Students will learn drypoint techniques, plate wiping techniques, and gain familiarity with intaglio printing. Students will leave with a finished drypoint plate and print, as the class hours will be devoted to learning technique versus creating a perfected artwork.

Please limit one (1) slot and name per email registration. Registration is required to manage the number of participants and prepare the materials needed for the workshop.

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Educational programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

December 5 | Artist Self-Promotion & Communications (VIRTUAL)

You can pay what you can for this virtual class as a donation to Spudnik Press.

Would you like to build more of your livelihood around your art practice, or get your work out into the world more? Spudnik Press is offering a variety of virtual workshops on Professional Practices for Artists!

Topic for the December 5 session:

Self-Promotion & Communications for Independent Artists

Professional Practices for Artists is a series of online stand-alone workshops that focus on different professional skills and practices that working artists depend on for entrepreneurship in the real world — helping you make a good start on your goals!

This class is free for members! Not a member yet? You can sign up as a Spudnik Member here.

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Educational programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

December 6 | Risography 101 (1 Day)

The Risograph is an automated duplicator from Japan that efficiently produces offset-like prints in a variety of saturated colors. Though not originally intended for artistic application, the machine has gained traction (and notoriety) in small-press culture for its distinctive effects and efficiency—as well as for being rather finicky.

This 4-hour workshop will walk students through the fundamentals of risography for bookmaking and fine art printing. Students will learn techniques and best practices for reproducing imagery, giving consideration to ink density, drying time, paper choices, registration, and patience. Students will become acquainted with the mechanics of the printer and learn basic maintenance, including how to change the master roll and a drum’s ink tube. Everyone will leave with an individually designed two-layer print.

Students will receive risography authorization and an Open Studio coupon, redeemable within the following 60 days. The Open Studio coupon is worth 4 hours of studio time (valued at $35) to work independently and continue what you have learned from the class. 

December 7 | Letterpress Refresher/Authorization

You can pay what you can for this 1-day class as a donation to Spudnik Press! Your donations will help Spudnik Press with its operational expenses.

This is a 4-hour refresher course for printers who are familiar with the letterpress process, especially those who have worked with Vandercook proof presses before.

In this course, students will review typesetting, using our letterpress furniture, and more. Other items that will be discussed include adjusting the roller heights, tips on color mixing, cleaning, and general studio policy.

Students will get authorization to use our letterpress equipment independently after this class. During the class, they will also be able to create a poster using wood type, metal type, ornaments and other printing blocks available at the shop.

Please limit one (1) slot and name per email registration. Registration is required to manage the number of participants and prepare the materials needed for the workshop.

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Educational programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

December 7-8 | WEEKEND INTENSIVE: Monotype Printing (2 Days)

First 3 students who enroll get a $25 discount off our registration fee ($195 for 2 days)!

Monotyping is printmaking in a very pure form: the transfer of ink to a singular image that cannot be duplicated. Monotypes are unique, precious, “one-of-one” and the process of creating them is ripe for experimentation, play, and working quickly through ideas and iterations.

Students will learn techniques in both oil-based and water-based inks that resemble everything from delicate watercolor to chunky fingerpaint and fine ballpoint pen. Participants will also learn to work with “ghost” prints and templates to create variable editions, as well as unique and collaborative prints as a class.

Come surprise yourself and each other with the possibilities of this generous and flexible medium!

First 3 students who enroll get a $25 discount off our registration fee ($195 for 2 days)!