Basic Monotype
This program is geared to youth groups, schools and individuals who have little or no experience in printmaking. It can be anywhere from a single class period to one or two full days. Depending upon the time frame and ages of the participants some of the areas to be covered include the mixing of ink, additive and subtractive techniques, rolling out a flat, manipulating the plate, use of stencils and templates, multiple plate use, registration and printing techniques, using the ghost and other areas dictated by the needs and progress of the participants.
Non-Press Monotype or Printing Without a Press
This workshop is structured for groups or institutions that do not have access to an intaglio press. It can be an elementary program for participants with little or no printing experience or it can be just about everything that is described in the more advanced monotype programs. Working with Akua waterbased inks and modifiers participants will learn how to get strong impressions with the use of rolling pins, wooden spoons, and a pin press.
Beyond Monotype / Monotype and More
These workshops cover a wide range of techniques possible in the monotype process and continue through the use of collage, drawing, and multiple plate projects. Students will be encouraged to pursue their artistic vision using monotype as a mark making tool in combination with whatever other techniques are efficient and available. The notion of the "artist as an inventor" will be stressed as mixed media techniques open the door to limitless opportunities. The approach is energetic and open, as each student's individual style will dictate the direction of the workshop.
Modifying, layering, mixing inks, finding color, use and abuse of mark-making tools, exploring the limits of paper, collage, chine colle and built up surface will all be discussed. Working with drawing materials, integration of Solarplate, ImageOn, traditional intaglio plates, other matrices, and finishing prints as resolved and complete expressions, including solving issues after printing, are aspects of the workshop. Some monotype and/or other printmaking experience is helpful.
Mini Monotype with a Side of Solarplate
This 3 day workshop is a paired down version of Beyond Monotype (see above) and includes a section on Solarplate, a contemporary plate making processes using UV light and non-toxic materials without traditional grounds and acids to produce repeatable intaglio images. With Solarplate participants may draw, paint, collage, photocopy, or use computer generated images to create a positive transparency. The image from the transparency is transferred under UV light to the surface of the plate. The plate is developed in water and then printed. Various inking, printing and registration techniques will be taught and additional demonstrations of ways to combine color and chine collé/collage with monotype images will open the door to endless possibilities for mixed media projects.
Layers and Plates
Using monotype as the primary technique this workshop focuses on the use of many plates and collage elements to create richly layered compositions. Rather than trying to compose on just one surface you will learn how to think in layers where many options become available in one or more impressions. While you have a monotype plate in progress you may decide to incorporate a background plate and perhaps a collage element or even an ImagOn or Solarplate. By having numerous surfaces to work from your options will become endless and the mixing and matching of imagery has the potential to move you into very exciting new directions.
The Variable Mark
Mini Monotype with a Side of Solarplate
This 3 day workshop is a paired down version of Beyond Monotype (see above) and includes a section on Solarplate, a contemporary plate making processes using UV light and non-toxic materials without traditional grounds and acids to produce repeatable intaglio images. With Solarplate participants may draw, paint, collage, photocopy, or use computer generated images to create a positive transparency. The image from the transparency is transferred under UV light to the surface of the plate. The plate is developed in water and then printed. Various inking, printing and registration techniques will be taught and additional demonstrations of ways to combine color and chine collé/collage with monotype images will open the door to endless possibilities for mixed media projects.
Layers and Plates
Using monotype as the primary technique this workshop focuses on the use of many plates and collage elements to create richly layered compositions. Rather than trying to compose on just one surface you will learn how to think in layers where many options become available in one or more impressions. While you have a monotype plate in progress you may decide to incorporate a background plate and perhaps a collage element or even an ImagOn or Solarplate. By having numerous surfaces to work from your options will become endless and the mixing and matching of imagery has the potential to move you into very exciting new directions.
The Variable Mark
This workshop is designed to bring together various contemporary platemaking processes with monotype and collage to create unique, mixed media prints or Edition Varied prints. You will learn one or more of the processes of Solarplate, Solar Platinum, and ImagOn to create repeatable imagery. This includes the preparation of your artwork for platemaking, including use of various transparency materials, mark making tools, and computer generated imagery. Various inking, printing and registration techniques as well as the use of water base ink are all aspects of the workshop. In depth demonstrations of monotype and chine collé/collage techniques will open the door to the incorporation and/or enhancement of the intaglio image. Experienced artists are encouraged to bring previously prepared matrices for integration into this open ended workshop process.
Paper To Panel (3-5 days)
This workshop focuses on the transformation of works on paper to panels that can then be handled as paintings, collages, and assemblages. Various forms of printmaking set the stage for images in the first two days. Then, using woodworking tools, wood panels, and hollow core doors participants will learn how to construct their own substrates for furthering their compositions. Commercially available pre-made panels can also be used. Collage plays a major role and the various uses of acrylic sealers and glues will be demonstrated. Generally the workshops are open-ended and dictated somewhat by the needs and experience of the participants. The notion of the "artist as an inventor" will be stressed as problem solving such as creating supports for assemblage and cutting into surfaces become the focus of how best to express each individual’s artistic vision.
The dynamic of experimenting, using what works, and taking it to the next level is what has moved Ron Pokrasso to create intriguing, increasingly sophisticated compositions. As a great recycler of both materials and ideas, Pokrasso will share his methods and concepts which have driven him to use any object - guitar strings, joist hangers, paintbrushes, plexiglas palettes, whatever works - to create his highly colorful constructed artworks.
Mixed Bag/ Mixed Bag Extension
The 5- day Mixed Bag workshop incorporates a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It is essentially the Three by Three series (see below) compressed into one week. Included are lessons in monotype, chine colle, photopolymer platemaking as well as panel construction and lamination. There is a lot of information presented as this touches on all the different techniques I use to create my own work. For an even more complete experience the 3- day Mixed Bag Extension offers the opportunity to continue with one or more of the projects begun during the Mixed Bag Workshop. Participants will be able to focus on a specific area of concentration in an informal assisted session format. Artists who enroll in the entire 8 day program will also have 2 free days of open studio time during the connecting weekend, a 10 day intensive art immersion.
Mixed Bag/ Mixed Bag Extension
The 5- day Mixed Bag workshop incorporates a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It is essentially the Three by Three series (see below) compressed into one week. Included are lessons in monotype, chine colle, photopolymer platemaking as well as panel construction and lamination. There is a lot of information presented as this touches on all the different techniques I use to create my own work. For an even more complete experience the 3- day Mixed Bag Extension offers the opportunity to continue with one or more of the projects begun during the Mixed Bag Workshop. Participants will be able to focus on a specific area of concentration in an informal assisted session format. Artists who enroll in the entire 8 day program will also have 2 free days of open studio time during the connecting weekend, a 10 day intensive art immersion.
The Three by Three series
Monotype Mark is the first of a series of three short workshops. It covers a wide range of techniques possible in the monotype process including additive and subtractive approaches, ink rolling methods, stencils and templates, the use of the ghost, contact monotype, viscosity, plate and paper registration and continues through the use of chine colle and collage, drawing, and multiple plate projects. Through several demonstrations and lectures beginning and advanced participants will learn to find color, modify, layer, and mix inks using all non-toxic waterbased Akua products. Working with drawing materials and finishing prints as resolved and complete expressions, including solving issues after printing, are all aspects of this 3 day high energy workshop.
Repeatable Mark is the second of three short workshops. In this 3 day program beginning and advanced participants will learn contemporary plate making processes using UV light and non-toxic developing solutions without traditional grounds and acids to produce repeatable intaglio images. With Solarplate and ImagOn participants may draw, paint, collage, photocopy, or use computer images to create a positive transparency. The image from the transparency is transferred under UV light to the surface of the plate. The plate is developed and then printed. Various inking, printing and registration techniques as well as the use of Akua non-toxic water based ink will be taught and additional demonstrations of ways to combine color and chine collé/collage with images will open the door to endless possibilities for mixed media projects. If you work digitally bring some files on a CD or jump drive and may also consider bringing your laptop. There is a computer with Photoshop and a 24” Epson digital printer in the studio. If you bring a digital camera I have a card reader to transfer to the computer. Your IPhone is also very efficient to use to capture and send images.
Constructed Mark is the third of three short workshops. This 3 day program focuses on the transformation of works on paper to panels that can then be handled as paintings, collages, and assemblages. Previously created works on paper and the availability of various forms of printmaking set the stage for initial compositions. Then, using woodworking tools, wood panels, and hollow core doors beginning and advanced participants will learn how to construct their own substrates for furthering their compositions. Collage plays a major role and the various uses of acrylic sealers and glues will be demonstrated. Generally the workshop is open-ended and dictated somewhat by the needs and experience of the participants. The notion of the "artist as an inventor" will be stressed as problem solving such as creating supports for assemblage and cutting into surfaces become the challenge of how best to express each individual’s artistic vision. The dynamic of experimenting, using what works, and taking it to the next level is what has moved Ron Pokrasso to create intriguing, increasingly sophisticated compositions. As a great recycler of both materials and ideas, Pokrasso will share his methods and concepts which have driven him to use any object - guitar strings, joist hangers, paintbrushes, plexiglas palettes, whatever works - to create his highly colorful constructed artworks.
Monothon
The Monothon is a fundraising event conceived by Ron Adams and myself and originally begun at The College of Santa Fe in 1987. Artists find sponsors and sponsors find artists to work fully assisted with Master Printers during a marathon of monotype printing sessions. One work from each artist session is retained by the host institution to be sold at an exhibition to raise money for the organization. The remaining works are the property of the artist. The Sponsor receives a credit towards the purchase of a work or works at the exhibition. Currently I participate in annual Monothons at The Center For Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT.
