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Workshops: Course Descriptions

basic monotype | advanced monotype | platemaking | collage and assemblage | monothon

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

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
All About Monotype
Monotype: The Basics and Beyond

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.

Monoprint, The Variable Mark
Matrices and Mixed Media
Beyond Monotype 2 - Further Explorations and Combinations

These workshops are 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.

The Constructed Mark

These workshops focus 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. 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.

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 Riverside Art Museum in Southern CA and The Center For Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT.