Courses and Tuition
We are now open in our exciting new ground floor space, and are able to take bookings for courses. To register your interest for any of the courses below, please email us at artichoketrading@btconnect.com
Book binding course
Make your own unique sketchbook. Using cotton fibre printmaking paper learn how to bind into a very personal item. Led by Staffan Gnosspelius.
Saturday 25th January 2025
10 am - 5.30 pm
Price £110 inc materials
please email to book.
Introduction to etching
First Saturday of each month
10.00 - 5.00
Saturday 11th January 2025
Saturday 1st February 2025
Tutor Staffan Gnosspelius
The course teaches traditional hard ground etching, how to prepare, draw, bite and print a plate.
Participants then have the choice of whether to add tones to the line image using aquatint or to introduce colour using mono print.
Aquatint option :
Fix tones onto the already bitten line work using pine resin fused to the plate surface and bitten in tonal stages.
Mono print option :
Learn the basic techniques of mark making and colour mixing. Perfect for painters and artists who like a direct approach to image making.
The course will concentrate on the various mark making opportunities using oil based ink on True Grain. How to use the merits of transparent inks to build up rich colour field layers.
You will begin by making a line etching on zinc, as a base on which to layer the mono print layers.
This course will teach you enough to be confident in accessing the workshop on an on going basis to develop your work.
cost £110
Etching Classes
Please email to register interest. Individual tuition and groups of two or more can be arranged at times to suit your schedule.
The one day etching course is designed to take you from idea to finished etching, with Staffan Gnosspellius.
This hands on short course will cover the basics of hard ground, soft ground, drypoint and aquatint. With full explanations of each process and a sprinkling of print history, this course aims to demystify etching, and show how, you too, can make great prints.
You will also have the option to combine etchings with mono print.
This course is for you whether you have produced etchings before and need a refresher, to having never stepped foot in a print studio before! And if you fall in love with etching and wish to continue, there will be further opportunities to use the studio more independently, too, at our tuesday evening sessions Etching Club, also hosted by Ellie, and at open access sessions.
Experimental etching transfer techniques
Saturday 15 th February 2025 10-5 . Please email if interested.
Experimental etching transfer techniques with Alice Valentina Biga
If you have ever been inspired by the work of Peter Freeth R.A. then this is the course for you.
A chance to experiment with mark making both hand drawn and digitally produced via simple photo copies.
During this course you will learn how to achieve multiple tones of aquatint with a sole etching bath.
We will be experimenting with a variety of techniques on how to transfer and or how to create an image onto a metal plate. We will be using oil-based etching ink, photocopies and photocopy paper as acid resistant. The plate will be etched and printed. There will be time to create two different A5 plates with the option of combining more than one technique on one of the plates.
This course is open to anyone who has an interest in etching. Previous etching experience is desirable, but not necessary.
please bring
- two A5 or smaller black and white images (drawing and/ or picture)
- oil based etching ink. Any greasy drawing tool will also work (litho crayons, tusche)
- blank photocopy paper
- new and clean washing up sponges
- brushes (various sizes and shapes)
Saturday 10 am - 5.00 pm cost £110
Please email artichoketrading@btconnect.com to book, places limited to 6 people
Relief Printing Lino Cut
Saturday 4th January
What is it that makes one printing’s oldest processes still pertinent today?
Through a combination of group demos and one-on-one tutorials, students will have the opportunity to explore the potential of lino processes. All participants will be shown single-colour printing, multi-block printing and the reduction-cut (or ‘suicide’) method as they explore their chosen subject.
Inspiration will be drawn from the meticulous line-work of Durer to the raw energy of the German Expressionists as well as contemporary artists such as Tom Hammick, Grayson Perry and Christianne Baumgartner.
Please bring sketches of photographic source material to work from.
Course suitable for beginners or experienced printmakers.
Course cost £110
Tuition
1 : 1 Tuition by the hour or by the day, learn a technique, tailored to your needs
We can also teach groups from 2 to 10 people in our studio in Brixton. Please email us for more details.
Artichoke Outreach
We can come to you with our mobile press for various events, like we do every year at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea.
We also visit schools to teach and provide demonstrations. Printmaking is a great way to boost GCSE and A Level portfolios. Please email us for further details.
