The Art of Printmaking at the Community College
Erna Jane Ebanks demonstrates that muscle and concentration are needed to cut some of the deeper lines.
Jackie Hydes protects her hands during the inking process.
The art of printmaking allows the artist to make copies of original designs. In making or "pulling" prints, the artist covers printing blocks or plates with special ink and presses them onto paper or other flat surfaces.
The artist re-inks the plate and repeats the process to make more prints. There are many different techniques used in the broad art form, but relief printing is the method currently being used in the Community College's introductory printmaking course.
Instructor Ms. Sarah Sessions has introduced students to three basic methods of relief printing: linoleum block, monoprints, and collage.
In linoleum block printing, an image is carved into the linoleum block after the existing surface is inked. The artist then applies handmade paper to the inked surface and is able to produce multiple prints.
To make monoprints, students paint ink images onto glass then print off onto handmade paper. This method produces prints with a painterly quality.
Collage printing involves creating a textured surface, inking the surface, then applying handmade paper to the inked surface to produce multiple prints.
Ms. Sessions, who holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from Auburn University, explains that printmaking is often mistaken for a highly complex art form. Students think about learning to operate a printing press, instead of focussing on the opportunity to create original imagery that can be reproduced.
Ms. Sessions' course has presented basic principals, and all work has been done by hand.
As the term winds down, both the students and the instructor are anticipating coming events.
Students are looking forward to a showcase of this term's work in the Community College library next month (December).
Ms. Sessions is awaiting the arrival of a printing press that will be used in the class to be offered next term.
The Community College of the Cayman Islands offers fundamentals of fine arts, printmaking and photogra-phy in its continuing education department.
These classes are offered to anyone interested in learning or expanding his or her artistic skills. The January printmaking class meets once a week for 14 weeks. For more information, call the National Gallery at 945-8111 or the Community College at 949-9580.