Printmaking Courses

Discount Policy

All courses are priced to be as affordable and accessible as possible, with a discount
provided for seniors, students and those not currently working.

LP studio members can avail of a 25% discount on all LP courses.

* Confirmation of an individual’s status will be requested at the time of booking in order to avail of a discount.
Individuals will be asked to provide I.D./documentation to confirm their eligibility for the discount requested.

Simply call or email to book a place on any of our courses.
Once booked, LP will then arrange payment.
The LP team are here to answer your questions so please do get in touch.

LP COURSES: August to December 2023

SUNDAY 13th AUGUST
RELIEF: COMBINING CUT & ETCHED LINO
10AM – 5PM
PRICE €85
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €75
MEMBERS PRICE €65

This relief printmaking course is aimed at all levels of experience including beginners,
and will guide participants through multi-plate printmaking using two very different approaches.

Tutor Ultan McAvinue will demonstrate the different effects and detail that both cut
and etched lino can add to a print. Each participant will first cut one piece of lino with a design
or image of their choice, before a second piece of lino/ image will be created using a very different method. Cutting into the surface of the initial piece of lino allows for creation
of an accurate image, while etched lino creates a range of alternative mark-making
with less controlled results.

Etched lino is created by applying a caustic soda based solution which eats into the surface
of the lino in a random pattern. Please note that this process does involve the use of chemicals that can be dangerous if used incorrectly, so applying the solution to etch the lino will always take place outside or in a very well ventilated area of the studio.

Participants will then be supported in printing both linos together/ over one another.
The course will incorporate –

• Transferring imagery to the surface of the lino
• Safe use of cutting tools
• How to block out surface areas when etching lino
• Safe use of the caustic soda solution
• Inking up/ Ink Application
• Registration of prints to ensure the most accurate overlay of both linocuts
• Using professional standard printing presses
• Correct cleaning of linocuts

Use of all tools and materials are included in the course fee.
Taking into account that this is a one-day course, & in order to maximize the learning experience for the group, all lino’s will be no larger than A5 in size.
Participants are asked that if incorporating any of their own imagery/ designs,
that they take into account the A5 size, & are not overly detailed or complex to ensure the best learning experience.

SATURDAY 19th & SUNDAY 20th AUGUST
INTENSIVE PHOTO ETCHING WEEKEND
10AM TO 5PM EACH DAY
PRICE €190
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €170
MEMBERS PRICE €145

LP’ Photo Etching course will bring participants through the entire photo etching process,
with each participant completing the course with a set of prints made using their own photos.
Photo etching transforms photography by exposing imagery onto a light sensitive plate,
which can then be printed using a traditional printing press.
This method does not employ the use of any acids and recreates digital and photographic imagery with high quality detail and definition.
The two-day course will cover all aspects of the process, from preparing and transferring imagery to plates using light activated materials and equipment, to inking and wiping techniques, registering your plate/ paper to ensure proper placement, safe use
of professional printing presses, and trouble-shooting any minor challenges that may arise.

The benefits of the photo etching method are that the image on the plate retains its photorealistic qualities while providing opportunities to reproduce imagery in a number
of new and different ways, and through an extended colour palette.
This can provide an entirely new way of interpreting or working with existing photographs or imagery. This course will develop participants knowledge and skill level and is aimed at those entirely new to printmaking,
along with artists, printmakers, film students, and photographers seeking to up-skill and experiment within their practice. LP’s photo etching weekend course may also appeal to those interested in presenting or preserving family or historical photographs in a creative new way.

No previous printmaking experience is necessary.

Please note that due to time considerations, all work created will be A6 – A4 in size,
with each participant having the chance to make more than one plate using their own source imagery.
LP courses are limited to six people in order to maximize direct tutor support and advice.
Use of tools and all materials are included in the course fee

SATURDAY 23rd & SUNDAY 24th SEPTEMBER
STEP BY STEP SILKSCREEN WEEKEND COURSE
10AM – 5PM EACH DAY
PRICE €190
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €170
MEMBERS PRICE €145

LP’s Step-by-Step Silkscreen weekend course is a comprehensive introduction to learning
the process of silkscreen. Participants will learn in a practical way, completing each step themselves & also learning through observing others in the group, with full tutor support.
The course level is aimed both at beginners & those who are eager to refresh their existing silkscreen skills.

Silkscreen is a hugely popular print method as it’s so versatile.
It’s a print method that can encompass so much – text, photographic imagery, sketches
and mark–making, plus many layers of colour. Silkscreen produces clean, punchy images
with a strong graphic quality and more refined, delicate images.
Details stay crisp and sharp while colour pops off the page.
LP’ weekend course is ideal for those eager to get to grips with the basics of silkscreen in order to work towards creating their own printed t’s, totes, photographs, posters, flyers & artwork.

Step-by-Step Silkscreen will cover:

• Image selection and conversion of imagery using common software
• How to transfer images to screen & exposure of screens
• Using equipment safely
• Printing: Registration of image, ink & paper selection, printing technique,
trouble shooting, creating two colour prints
• Cleaning/ maintenance of screens

All materials are included in the course fee.

SUNDAY 15th OCTOBER
POLYESTER PLATE LITHOGRAPHY COURSE
10AM TO 5PM
PRICE €85
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €75
MEMBERS PRICE €65

Polyester plate lithography has become increasingly popular with artists and educators experimenting in the medium of lithography, as it is considered a user friendly, non-toxic alternative to traditional stone and metal plate lithography.
This LP course, delivered by artist Pamela Dunne, offers an accessible & enjoyable entry point to the process.

Poly plate litho works using the basic principle that grease and water repelling one another. When oily printing ink is then applied to the plate it will only stick to the drawn/painted greasy areas. The plates are light & flexible & deliver a high quality printed image so work well
in the production of small editions of lithographic prints.

Course participants will experiment with a range of wet and dry media that can produce painterly strokes, ink washes, repeating textural marks, & more delicate or precise details.
The group will experiment with permanent markers, biros, India ink, pens, pencils, and crayons before working back into marked surfaces with blades to create areas of cross hatching etc. Participants will finish the course having produced a series of prints.

SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER
INTRO INTAGLIO COURSE: DRYPOINT & CHINE COLLÉ
10AM TO 5PM
PRICE €85
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €75
MEMBERS PRICE €65

Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking technique that involves scratching an image
into the surface a plate using a pointed tool. These lines create a burr that holds ink
while any ink on the surface of the plate can be wiped back, meaning that the sunken lines
of the drawing/ mark-making creates the print. This is the opposite of relief printmaking. Drypoint is a non-toxic, easy to understand print technique, and a great way to explore printmaking while translating sketches and drawings directly to print.
Traditionally plates were made of copper but now acetate or zinc are also commonly used.
On this course, participants will use acetate as it is easy to work with and sketches can be used as a reference guide underneath the clear acetate if desired.

Participants will also learn to incorporate chine collé into their drypoint prints on the day.
Chine collé is a technique often used in conjunction with etching or lithography,
whereby a tissue-thin layer of paper, cut to fit within the printing plate is affixed to the printing plate with adhesive before being run though the press to reinforce the bond using pressure. This technique is a great way to incorporate additional colour, texture, shape,
and compositional choices into your print. Chine is the French word for China,
as the thin paper originally used with this technique was imported from China, while collé
is the French word for ‘glued.’

Participants will first make several mini drypoints’ as they practice the technique before working on an A5 plate that will also incorporate chine collé. Participants are advised that
if preparing their own imagery/ designs in advance, to work within the A5 size,
& we recommend that images are not overly detailed or complex to ensure the best learning experience.

TUESDAY 3rd OCTOBER to TUESDAY 28th NOVEMBER
BUILD YOUR SKILLS: 8 WEEK EVENING SILKSCREEN COURSE
6.30PM – 9PM EVERY TUESDAY
PRICE €300
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €275
MEMBERS PRICE €225

LP’s 8-week Build Your Skills: Silkscreen course is an excellent way in which to develop fluency across the key aspects of silkscreen. Participants are taught in a practical way, engaging with each step manually with full tutor support, while also learning through observing others
in the group. Repetition across the weeks’ supports the development of new & more ambitious ideas as knowledge & confidence grows, alongside participant’s comfort level of working within the space.
The course level is aimed at everyone from complete beginners & those who are eager to refresh or expand their existing silkscreen skills.

Silkscreen is a hugely popular print method as it’s so versatile.
It’s a print method that can encompass so much – text, photographic imagery, sketches
and mark–making, plus many layers of colour. Silkscreen produces clean, punchy images
with a strong graphic quality and more refined, delicate images. Details stay crisp and sharp while colour pops off the page.
LP’ evening screen course is ideal for those eager to get to grips with the basics of silkscreen in order to work towards creating their own printed t’s, totes, photographs, posters, flyers & artwork.

Step-by-Step Silkscreen will cover:

• Image selection and conversion of imagery using common software
• How to transfer images to screen & exposure of screens
• Using equipment safely
• Printing: Registration of image, ink & paper selection, printing technique,
trouble shooting, creating two colour prints
• Cleaning/ maintenance of screens

All material costs are included in the course fee.

SATURDAY 4th & SUNDAY 5th NOVEMBER
INTAGLIO: MULTI-PLATE ETCHING W AQUATINT WEEKEND COURSE
10AM TO 5PM EACH DAY
PRICE €200
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €180
MEMBERS PRICE €150

Combine tone & line within your intaglio prints on this excellent weekend course from LP.
This intensive course is ideal for anyone who has a basic understanding of etching
and would like to develop their knowledge while also incorporating tonal shading through the aquatint technique. Intaglio printmaking refers to marks made on the surface of a plate (metal, Perspex etc.) that when inked up & then wiped to retain the ink within those marks, forms the image that will be printed.
Aquatint involves the application of a powdered resin that results
in the addition of various tones to an existing line etching.
Aquatint is built up in layers to allow for a range of darker and lighter tonal areas within one print.

Participants will be shown how best –

– To apply ground to their plates
– To transfer their design
– Mark making on their plate
– Registration and printing of the plate before –

Learning about the aquatint process and completing the steps involved with the technique, including –

– Stopping out a design
– Graduations of bite and its effects on an image
– Corrections and proofing the plate, and
– Registration and printing of both plates.
Use of all tools and materials are included in the course fee.

SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER
EXPERIMENT WITH MONOPRINT – 5 WAYS IN ONE DAY
10AM – 5PM
PRICE €85
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €75
MEMBERS PRICE €65

This course is ideal for complete beginners to printmaking, artists seeking to explore
their existing skills in a new way, printmakers seeking to experiment with a non-toxic,
tactile process, & anyone who would like to try something fun and new
that could then be continued at home with a few basic tools.
Monoprinting is a low-tech form of printmaking technique that involves applying ink
to the surface of a smooth plate to create images. With simplicity comes freedom!
The beauty of monoprints is that the application of ink can result in many different effects
& results & the process has a very painterly, experimental quality to it.
Unlike other forms of printmaking, each monoprint is entirely unique.

During this engaging one-day course, tutor Áine Finnegan will guide participants
through several ink application techniques.
The course will teach different monoprint techniques & styles including:

• Additive – Drawing directly/ working into an inked surface using a range of tools to create different marks before printing.
• Subtractive – Applying a sheet of paper over the inked plate and making marks on the back of the piece of paper.
The pressure will lift ink from the acrylic sheet to leave an image of what you have drawn on your paper.
• Painting with Ink – Directly onto a clean plate before printing over another printed background.
• Stencils – Allows for certain areas to remain clear or to be filled in with other colours/ mark-making.
• Textured monoprints – Incorporating the use of textured surfaces such as papers, feathers etc. into your prints.

Each participant can experiment with a combination of techniques and will finish the course with a selection of their own handmade prints. Please note that in order to maximise the learning opportunities within this one-day course, all plates supplied/ created will be A4 or smaller. Use of all tools and materials are included in the course fee and we encourage participants to bring any collages/ sketches/ ideas that they may like to work from with them on the day.

SATURDAY 25th & SUNDAY 26th NOVEMBER
STEP BY STEP SILKSCREEN WEEKEND COURSE
10AM – 5PM ON BOTH DAYS
PRICE €190
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €170
MEMBERS PRICE €145

LP’s Step-by-Step Silkscreen weekend course is a comprehensive introduction to learning
the process of silkscreen. Participants will learn in a practical way, completing each step themselves & also learning through observing others in the group, with full tutor support.
The course level is aimed both at beginners & those who are eager to refresh their existing silkscreen skills.

Silkscreen is a hugely popular print method as it’s so versatile.
It’s a print method that can encompass so much – text, photographic imagery, sketches
and mark–making, plus many layers of colour. Silkscreen produces clean, punchy images
with a strong graphic quality and more refined, delicate images.
Details stay crisp and sharp while colour pops off the page.
LP’ weekend course is ideal for those eager to get to grips with the basics of silkscreen in order to work towards creating their own printed t’s, totes, photographs, posters, flyers & artwork.

Step-by-Step Silkscreen will cover:

• Image selection and conversion of imagery using common software
• How to transfer images to screen & exposure of screens
• Using equipment safely
• Printing: Registration of image, ink & paper selection, printing technique,
trouble shooting, creating two colour prints
• Cleaning/ maintenance of screens

All materials are included in the course fee.

SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER
CREATIVE COLLOGRAPHS
10AM – 5PM
PRICE €85
PRICE WITH DISCOUNT €75
MEMBERS PRICE €65

Collograph is a highly tactile & adaptable printing technique, with minimal technical knowledge required while being one of the more ecologically sound forms of printmaking.

The collograph process involves creating a ‘plate’ or matrix from cardboard or thin wood.
The plate forms the basis of your image, upon which a wide selection of different surface materials, fibres and shapes can be layered. Building these layers will result is a richly detailed and textured plate that will then be varnished, inked up and printed.

Materials such as sandpaper, textiles including lace, bubble wrap, string, cut card,
textured wallpaper, masking tape, carborundum, & natural foliage can all be used to create
the collagraph plate – it’s a really hands-on and imaginative form of printmaking
that allows the piece to develop as the plate takes shape.

During this course, each participant will:

• Make their own collograph plates using an array of different materials – a wide selection will be provided by LP on the day but participants are welcome to bring additional textures if they desire.
• Varnishing plates.
• Learn how to then correctly print their plates while considering & learning
about safe use of presses & adjusting pressure, ink application techniques, plate registration, troubleshooting etc.
• Finish the course with a selection of handmade prints.

LP TUTORS

Áine Finnegan is a printmaker and designer working in the field of visual communication.
A past joint recipient of LP’ Graduate Printmaking Bursary, her work features in multiple private collections.

Derek O’ Sullivan is an artist, printmaker, technician and tutor.
He has taught with LP for many years and is an expert on all things silkscreen related.

Pamela Dunne is a highly experienced artist, printmaker and tutor, having studied Fine Art at both Limerick School of Art and Design, LIT (LSAD),
and at the University of Ulster in Belfast.
She has contributed to countless printmaking collaborations and her work resides in both private and public collections including Office of Public Works (OPW) collection and the National Self Portrait Collection in the University of Limerick.
Dunne is also printmaking technician with Limerick School of Art & Design.

LP tutor Suzannah O’ Reilly is an internationally recognised artist, printmaker and educator.
She is a lecturer in Limerick School of Art and Design, and co-founder/ co-director of Parallel Editions, a fine art print editioning company based in Limerick city.

LP tutor Ultan McAvinue is an experienced printmaker, facilitator, and a highly skilled technician. He also sits on the board of directors of Limerick Printmakers.