ARS 111 - Printmaking & the Book

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR (students beginning prior to Fall 2024): Meets general academic requirement AR is a linked (IL) course.
In this hands-on studio course students create their own artists’ book through printmaking processes. Artists’ books are art objects that reference traditional book forms. We will begin with relief, the oldest form of printmaking. Students will carve images into a block and then transfer the image using ink and pressure, much like a rubber stamp. We will then explore other printmaking techniques which developed alongside the printed book and hybrid processes that blend digital technology with hand printing. Through collage and layering of printed materials students will respond to themes discussed in the other class including censorship and the politics of print. Each student will gain an understanding of the technical processes and the visual language and possibilities of working with the multiple. Students examine historical approaches and context while exploring contemporary modes of expression.