syllabus — ART 229 — Beginning Printmaking

Relief Print
Linoleum Block Prints

overview

Consider this project as an opportunity to focus on an issue or topic that is important to you. You will address your concept with a limited edition set of identical prints AND with a collection of experimental prints that supports the development of your concept in some way (including the technical development). Both sets will utilize relief printing / linoleum block printing techniques.

Take time to consider the subject matter and how you want to approach it. What will you need to research to develop your idea? Who do you hope to connect with in your work? Will the tone of your message be serious, humorous, formal, educational, aggressive, ironic, etc? How might the relief-printing medium affect the development, interpretation, or delivery of your message? What size and format will best convey your message? How does the production of multiples play a role in your work?

Ideas for your limited edition design might include illustrations, intricate patterns, mixtures of graphics and text, conceptual imagery, utilitarian function, or pointed social commentary explored through art or design. Plans for your experimental set might include developing additional components to add to the ideas explored in your limited edition, exploring additional layering, exploring a new conceptual direction, exploring a new technique in depth (or breadth), delving into art genres that are not likely to produce a physical result, etc.

Please note that your unique, thoughtful approach to your concept is critical, so you should avoid creating designs that are simply recreations of something you’ve seen before or found online.

complete or submit the following items for your project grade:

• PREP WORK:
  Present the concept for your work. (SEE: the Developing Ideas assignment)
  
  
• TRADITIONAL LIMITED EDITION:
  A limited edition of IDENTICAL finished, signed, and editioned prints on quality printmaking paper or appropriate paper; minimum of 5 prints. See: Edition Information PDF
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include a minimum of 5 multi-color prints and there must be evidence of 2 block designs in your total set including both the limited edition and experimental set (either use of 2 blocks or an altered block as in the case of a reduction print)
  
  

• EXPERIMENTAL SET:
  A collection of tests or experiments that show either a large range of types of experimentation, or a great depth into a certain kind of experimentation, or an additional take on the concept you explored in your limited edition; minimum of 10. Experiments are not required to be signed or editioned.
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include a minimum of 5 multi-color prints and there must be evidence of 2 block designs in your total set including both the limited edition and experimental set (either use of 2 blocks or an altered block as in the case of a reduction print)
  
  
• PRESENT IN CRITIQUE:
  Consider a proper format for presenting your work (for example, pinning to the wall) and be prepared display all your work during the critique.
  NOTE: You are expected to both present your work and participate in critique discussions of classmates’ work. If your work does not hang in the critique, I must see the work physically/in person at another time for you to receive credit.
  
  
• DOCUMENT:

Photograph / document your final work and submit the JPGs (or HEICs) in the appropriate D2L folder within 1 week of the end of class critique. You will have a brief amount of time to photograph your work during class critique or you may photograph it before/after critique. It is not my expectation that you edit the images or clean them up, but as long as your work was in critique, you may submit appropriately edited images if you choose.

NOTE: Please submit a minimum of 6 images as listed below as JPG (or HEIC) files to receive full credit for your work. Do not submit in a different file format without discussing with me.
NOTE: Items loaded after the 1 week timeframe will be considered late and will receive reduced points.
NOTE: Assignment credit may not be granted unless minimum D2L submission requirements are met.

Please submit a minimum of the following JPG/HEIC images:

1+ photo(s) of your favorite limited edition print (full image of print)

3+ photos of your favorite experiments (full image of experiment if applicable)

1+ photo(s) of a detail of a single work

1+ photo(s) or some configuration of photos showing ALL your work for critique – this part of the documentation doesn’t need to be formal and can be prints spread on the wall or floor, etc.

[ This is a minimum of 6 photos total ]

NOTE: If you feel that your concept for this project will not be possible within these stated requirements, please talk to me so we can work out a different set of requirements.

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checklist:

• Developing Ideas
• Limited edition prints
• Experimental set of prints/results
• 5 multi-color prints in your total submitted
• Evidence of 2 block designs (either 2 blocks or an altered block as in the case of a reduction print)
• Preparation to display your work during the critique
  
  
  

grade criteria for limited edition prints:

• Challenge of concept, message, or purpose
• Success of concept, message, or purpose
• Identical printing of the limited edition
• Effort exhibited in the initial sketches for your work
• Overall composition
• Detail and complexity of your design (ex: contrast of light and dark values, application of line-work, etc.)
• Skill and craftsmanship in cutting your block(s)
• Evidence of 2 block designs *
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include a minimum of 5 multi-color prints and there must be evidence of 2 block designs (either use of 2 blocks or an altered block as in the case of a reduction print)
• Quality and craftsmanship of printing
• Finished quality of the work; appropriateness for portfolio or exhibition display
• Appropriate application of limited edition process
  To edition, gather your prints and select the prints that look identical (sometime a little paintbrush or X-acto work can remove a small blemish). You may choose a few prints to be Artist Proof images if you want (traditionally 10% of images); Label those as “A.P.” and put them aside. Count your remaining prints and the resulting number is your edition size. You may choose to keep a few Trial Prints / Test Prints that might even include your notes written on them, but label them “T.P.” See: Edition Information PDF for further information.
  
  Prints are labeled under the image in sharp pencil, left to right: # of print / # in edition, title (if applicable), artist signature and date (year created).

grade criteria for second or experimental pieces:

• Challenge of concept, message, or purpose as it applies to the work.
• Effort exhibited in formulating a plan for beginning your experimentation; this may or may not be sketches. (For example, if you are going to beat your block with a hammer and print the results, then you should have a plan for how that might work and should be prepared with an appropriate hammer.)
• Breadth and/or depth of experimentation. (This could include: use of materials, multi-design, mixed media, color experimentation, color-mixing, etc. or more conceptually based work.)
• Evidence of exploration and multiple trials. (If this component is not clear in the final prints or if the final prints no longer exist, please provide a statement or other form of documentation.)
• Quality and craftsmanship as it applies to the work.
• Evidence of 2 block designs *
  * Either your traditional edition or experimental set must include a minimum of 5 multi-color prints and there must be evidence of 2 block designs (either use of 2 blocks or an altered block as in the case of a reduction print)
  
  
  

resources:

Print Liberation by Nick Paparone and Jamie Dillow (book)

Ink, Paper, Politics: WPA-Era Printmaking from the Needles Collection (download PDF)

Artists who yearn for art that transforms by Lisa Gail Collins (text and PDF)

Ester Hernandez on community leadership and art (3min video)
The Design of Dissent: Socially and Politically Driven Graphics by Milton Glaser (PDF)