Understanding the Language of Visual Design
Beyond the technical craft of printmaking lies the art of visual communication. This class is designed for printmakers of all levels and will provide you with a deeper knowledge of design concepts, enabling you to make more informed artistic decisions and infuse your printmaking with intention and impact. This class exercises will focus on monotype, but the principals can be applied to any printmaking technique.
Through a blend of hands-on exercises, and constructive critiques, where students will learn to:
- explore the power of line
- understand how positive and negative spaces interact
- discover how to use light and dark tonality to create depth, emphasis, and mood
- add texture for visual richness
- understand how to see and create compositional balance
In the second half of the class students will work on creating new compositions or rework past prints using design principals.
The tuition for this class includes a fee of $20 for basic materials provided by CAW.
School Policies
Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee.
Please click here for more details.
Term: Fall 2025
Suggested Ages: 18+
Please bring to class: • Paper towels • Basic art supplies: Pencils, fine and reg point Sharpies, craft knife, scissors, artist tape, • Brayers: assorted sizes (there are some general use brayers in the lab) • Bring items to create stencils and collagraph plates, including various types of cardboard, textured papers, tape (different textures), netting, and fabric scraps. Items need to be run through a press: must be thin (1/8 in thick or less) but textured is best. Found objects are perfect. • Printmaking Paper: 2-4 sheets of ~140lb: Reeves BFK or similar, 9x12 pad white hot press paper (Stonehenge, Lenox or Richeson) for multiple 4x6 swatches. (paper specifics will be covered in email before class) • Assorted thin colored or patterned papers • Freezer paper or palette paper