Mono-Printing: Solar Plate Collage Intensive

Why this program?

This two-day studio intensive introduces students to the creative possibilities of solar plate printmaking. Participating will learn and practice the process of creating solar plates, then use layering, color, texture, monoprint, and collage to transform solar plate imagery into expressive mixed-media prints. Students will create a series of original prints while learning both traditional and contemporary approaches to image-making. This workshop is designed for artists, educators, students, and creative individuals interested in expanding their printmaking practice.

No prior printmaking experience is required!

What will this program look like?

Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and independent studio exploration, students will explore solar plate exposure, photographic image transfer, hand-drawn plate creation, plate development, intaglio inking and wiping, multiple-plate printing, monoprinting, transparency and color mixing, miced-media integration, and print presentation. Emphasis will be placed on creative experimentation, personal expression, and the development of a unique visual language through printmaking. 

Day 1: Learning Focus: Creating successful solar plates and developing confidence with the basic solar plate printing process.

• Introduction to contemporary solar plate and mixed-media printmaking, with examples 
• Overview of solar plate materials and safety procedures
• Image selection, composition, and preparation of digital and hand-drawn imagery
• Demonstration of solar plate exposure, development, printing plates, registration, and multiple-plate printing
• Create and expose 5×7 solar plates
• Print and evaluate plates, experiment with inking and wiping approaches
• Group review of prints and discussion of successful exposures and challenges

Day 2: Learning Focus: Using layering, color, texture, monoprint, and collage to transform solar plate imagery into expressive mixed-media prints.

• Demonstration of color and registration techniques, monoprinting, and combining solar plate imagery with monoprint layers
• Layering solar plate images, exploring transparency and color mixing, and combining solar plate imagery with monoprint layers
• Incorporating printed and painted papers; cutting, assembling, and layering printed elements
• Development of a small personal print series
• Individual instructor feedback and 1:1 consultations