Wednesday morning: Etching, basics and beyond

When & Where

15 January 2025 - 12 February 2025 ( 13.75 hours, 5 weeks )
Morning, Wednesday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Brian McKenzie
Course Code W24PTGE03C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

This course introduces the basics of etching. Use zinc plates and nitric acid. Discover how to produce and print professional quality etching plates using staple processes; hard ground, soft ground and aquatint. Understand acid timings, stopping out and tool use to create simple or complex work, layering up techniques to build drawing based long lasting plates. The course is designed for those new to or needing reminding of etching techniques but experienced etchers can expect to extend and push their capabilities benefitting from the tutor’s extensive knowledge, developing skills in more involved approaches like sugar lift, spit bite, viscosity printing, scraping/burnishing, tool use and care, experimental approaches and more. This course is suitable for all levels of experience and expertise in printmaking and art. Beginners, intermediate and advanced students work and learn together in a lovely, vibrant, well equipped studio environment. Students can choose to pursue their own personal print project assisted by the tutor who encourages students to gain deeper understanding, greater confidence and full outlet for their creative vision in a wide range of super printmaking processes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the basics of etching and develop skills to make plates and prints
Broaden printmaking skills and strengthen critical decision making
Use the printmaking equipment and workshop safely
Engage in group crits, projects, demonstrations and discussions around technique and other students work

Cost

Full fee

£166

Concession fee

£125

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

Students will make blocks, plates and prints and use the studio equipment needed to do this. Teaching is both in groups and on an individual, one-to-one basis, with technical and critical advice depending on your needs. The tutor will give some demonstrations, presentations and lead group discussions.

Entry requirements

No previous experience of printmaking is necessary, but an interest or experience of drawing or design is useful. You may have some previous experience and want to develop and practice your own choice of technique as a printmaker.

What you need to know before you enrol

The teaching does not include lithography. Health & Safety information will be given at the start of the course and subsequent lessons where necessary. You will be asked to sign a form declaring that you agree to follow procedures as advised. Some chemicals used may be harmful in pregnancy. Please let the tutor know if you are pregnant and they will advise you as to necessary precautions. Some of the presses and processes require physical strength; the tutor will assist if you need help. Note: at present there is no wheelchair access to the print studio, and the studios are on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building. If you have any mobility issues please contact the department prior to enrolling. Payment for materials must be made using cash.

What you need

You could well need pencils and pens, a variety of small brushes, a sketchbook or notebook and a portfolio to take work home in. The course fee includes most studio consumables (basic inks, solvents etc) but you will have to pay for paper, etching plates, lino blocks etc. These are available to buy in the department at cost price. Further requirements will be discussed at the first and subsequent classes.

What you can do next

There are courses following on for the remaining half or full term dealing with other printmaking processes. You can enrol on any of the subsequent courses on any day. There are also various short courses, which generally focus on single techniques. Please talk to your tutor for more advice about their programme and on what to do next.