GAW artists occasionally offer classes in the workshop, but there are other places in the city to
try your hand at printmaking. Whether you're just
intrigued by the process, took a class a long time ago
and always wanted to get back into it, or are already working with
printing but want to learn a new medium, here you can pick up some new printmaking
skills! (there are many places in the East Bay
too, but these are just adult classes in SF) :
Although classes have already started, we have to mention City College of San Francisco. Great facilities, great teachers, evening and weekend
classes in every media except lithography. Other art schools and
universities often have continuing education art classes, especially
in the summer, but nothing beats CCSF's prices.
These organizations have shorter classes going on in the Fall:
San Francisco Center for the Book near
Potrero Hill, has lots of classes in letterpress on Vandercook and platen
presses, photopolymer platemaking, and occasionally a wood engraving
or solarplate class. Also many classes in bookbinding.
Sharon Arts Center: in Golden Gate park
and also in the Mission, Sharon Arts has short workshops in
screenprinting and relief printing (and just about every other
non-print art process you could want to try).
Has an etching/monoprinting class, and
screenprinting classes for paper and for textiles. Some classes are drop-in, so you don't have to sign up for a whole series.
Root Division: Various classes are held in their studios on 17th
Street in the Mission. Relief printing and screenprinting are the
current offerings for Fall. They have other art classes, as well as
teaching and professional practice workshops.
Home to Chrysalis Studios: monotype and linocut
classes with Katie Gilmartin.
Also, some local artists teach classes in their studios:
Ink Paper Plate Press: group classes in
letterpress printing; woodcut and linoleum relief printing, right nearby in Dogpatch at Sirima Sataman's beautiful studio. I believe
there might be a monotype day once in a while too.
Hilary Williams and Mike Kimball teach
screenprint classes in their space at ARC studios, in SOMA. Scheduled classes or you can set up a private workshop for groups of 4 people.
3 fish studios used to be our neighbors on 3rd Street but they have moved to the outer sunset, where they still offer a friendly welcome anytime they're around, AND linoleum-block printing
classes.
And lastly, (for now) if you get really ambitious, you can make
prints on handmade paper by taking a papermaking workshop at 1890
Bryant in Rhiannon Alpers' studio. Also learn how to use any kind of carved wood or linoleum block to create your own watermarked sheets of paper.
GAW offers studio membership to artists who already have printmaking experience, but there are lots of resources out there for aspiring printmakers to try. Look for more posts as we discover new things!
