Curwen Print Study Centre

A little egg-stra Easter treat!...another Open Access day has been added due to demand. These sessions are for people who have already completed a course here with us and who would like to make use of the studio facilities to work independently. There will be a studio technician to support you but it is not a taught day. The studio is open from 9.30am - 4.30pm and the studio hire fee for the day is £54 - this does not inc any studio materials you may want to use, but you are more than welcome to bring all your own things (especially unwanted Easter Eggs!) email enquiries@curwenprintstudy.co.uk or call 01223 892380 to book.

Lithography means ‘to write on stone’. This fascinating process works on the principle that water and oil do not mix. Images are created on the lithographic stone using a variety of greasy drawing and painting materials, the stone is then treated chemically and this processing changes it to have two diametrically opposed surfaces - water loving and ink loving. The stone surface is kept damp while applying the ink so that the water loving areas remain ink-free. The paper is placed on to the inked stone and this is all then run through a direct lithographic press at high pressure to transfer the image on the stone onto the paper. On this weekend course you will learn how to create, process and print both a stone lithograph and a photo plate lithograph and will take home a variable edition of 6 prints in A4/A3 sizes.

A form of relief printmaking, a Woodcut image is created when the side grain of a piece of wood is cut away to leave an image on the remaining raised areas and it is this which is then printed. The marks are much coarser than with wood engraving, with the character of the wood being visible and a part of the final image. On this introductory course you will learn how to plan, cut and print an image from a 115 x 150 mm piece of Sidegrain wood or Japanese Plywood. By the end of the day, you will have created a variable edition of 5 prints.

Like etching Aquatint is an intaglio technique used to produce a tonal effects rather than lines. A metal plate is first coated in a fine powder called called Rosin and any white areas in the image are stopped out using a sugar lift solution. The plate is then put in a mordant for the required time to produce the palest grey. The palest grey is then stopped out, the plate put back in the acid and so on until the darkest tone has been achieved. On this course you will learn how to use sugar lift solution to create an A5 aquatint image and print it successfully on an etching press. You will take home a variable edition of at least 5 prints.

Etching is an intaglio process - intaglio coming from the Italian word intagliare meaning to “incise”. In etching a metal plate is coated with hard or soft wax and marks are made into this using a sharp tool to expose the metal beneath.... The plate is placed into a mordant which etches the exposed metal. Ink is then pushed into these etched marks which when passed under a press creates the print. On this course you will learn how to create an A5 size etching and print it successfully on an etching press. You will take home a variable edition of at least 5 prints.
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On this half day course you will learn about and investigate the qualities and potential of cardboard for making relief prints. You will explore a variety of cutting, incising and tearing techniques to create a range of unique and subtle marks, textures and shapes in your images. A very low-tech and easy-to-learn technique with really beautiful results.

On this half day course you will use materials and found objects, including textured papers, leaves, feathers and fabrics, to make, combine and develop printed images. You will be able to experiment with counter prints, ghost printing, different inks, using presses and hand printing methods. By the end of the afternoon you will have at least 5 x A4 prints to take home.

A great way to learn how to create amazing prints using just the pressure from your hands! You'll explore various lino and monoprinting techniques and experiment with transfer drawing, paper stencils and painterly methods to create A4 monoprints. You will use hand burnishing techniques to print lino cuts and will be shown how to extend and develop these prints through masking and layering. The possibilities afforded by printing without a press are brilliant and this course will show you just what you can acheive at home.

A great opportunity for the whole family to spend a fun day together exploring printmaking in a professional studio. On this course you will learn about the two techniques of linocut and drypoint etching - how to use the different tools to make your image, how to apply ink and how to print using a press and by hand. Not only will you go home with lots of original prints, you may discover a hidden talent for printmaking!

We've been having a clear out in the studio and have found a couple of items which are now for sale - a Rexel Stella30 cartridge electric stapler (£25) and a Bosch PSE 180E electronic wood carving set (£30). Both in full working order and collection only. Contact us via private message or on 01223892380 to arrange purchase or for more details.

This weekend exhibition is a great chance to catch a glimpse of the wonderful prints created by our Monday Certificate students this year. They are showing works across all areas of printmaking that they have studied and explored on this exciting and challenging year long course.

The John Jarrold Printing Museum in Norwich is under threat of closure in order to make way for yet more development plans. In 2007 Stanley Jones visited this museum to meet Howard Anderson and Cecil Bye to discuss Lithographic map printing during the Great War. This shared interested in fine art printmaking led to the museum being given the Ratcliff flat-bed offset machine - a machine that began life in 1927 at Curwen Press. We at the Curwen Print Study Centre are absolutely horrified at the prospect of this unique part of printing history being destroyed. Please share this post and email Planning@norwich.gov.uk using the reference 18/01286/f within the next 3 days to urge the planning department to think again to save the museum.

It really has been a good show -Cambridge Original Printmakers Biennale 2018 - and you only have 2 more days in which to go! Curwen Print Study Centre is thrilled that a third of the Printmakers selected had learnt their skills at Curwen. Stanley Jones MBE our Founder and Assessor on our Certificate Course takes great pride that so many Artists develop their own practice beyond Curwen. The photos shown reflect just a small number of the outstanding Prints on display by Curwen Students. Please come and talk to us on Saturday about the many courses we offer - there really is something for everyone.

We are proud to be part of the Cambridge Original Printmakers Biennale 2018, and even more proud that a third of the exhibiting Printmakers have studied printmaking with us here at the Study Centre Studio. This is past CPCS Certificate Printmaker Liz Hales at her stand in the Biennale in the Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge - do visit her stand to see some fabulous prints - this one is already sold!

Sneak preview ... some lovely work from two past CPSC Certificate graduates, Terry Bryan on the left and Nina Sage on the right - do come and see the work for yourself!

We are on our stand at the Cambridge Original Printmakers Biennale. We have prints for sale and info about what we have going on back in the studio. We would love to see you so do drop in and say hello - and see some fantastic work by the Printmakers taking part in the 2018 exhibition.

Join us at Fairycroft House, Saffron Walden for a series of half day courses with Anne Marike Pit: Lino on 13th September, Drypoint on 20th September, Monoprinting on 27th September. All sessions 10-1.00 - 1 x course £45, 2 x courses £85, 3 x courses £120 ...

Join us for a year of Printmaking experiences in the studio - last spaces available on our CPSC Certificate course starting next week Thursday 6th September. Every Thursday for 30 weeks over 3 terms - study printmaking in depth, starting with an introduction to diverse printmaking methods, techniques and approaches. High level of technical support and individual tuition enables you to gain competence in a range of processes while exploring and developing your own creative ideas.

Lovely creative space, nice structured workshops, great tutors 👌🏼👌🏼 Thanks for a great day