On Now

3 Day Printmaking Courses

These three day courses help printmakers develop their skills in specialist areas. Although of particular interest to those with some experience of printmaking, they are open to all.
Multiple Block Woodcut Prints with Magnus Irvin
30 October - 1 November 2009 10am - 4pm
Students will learn how to prepare and cut 2 or 3 plywood blocks to produce one image. Instruction will be given in registration, inking and burnishing techniques to produce dynamic, coloured prints. A prior knowledge of relief printmaking would be an advantage (although not absolutely necessary) and students should bring some ideas and sketches of simple, graphic images.

Japanese Woodblocks with Jude Lockie
4 - 6 November 2009 10am - 4pm
Jude Lockie is a specialist in the art of Japanese Woodblock printing. She has worked in Japan with masters of this fascinating technique, which allows prints to be produced without the use of a press, using water-based inks. This popular course is ideal for those wishing to experiment with a printmaking method that is not dependent on presses or chemicals and can be easily practised in a home studio.

Etching, Texture and Colour with Anthony Searle
19 - 21 February 2010 10.00am - 4.00pm
This course is ideal for beginners and more experienced printmakers. The 3 days will include etching techniques, such as
soft ground, hard ground, sugar lift, aquatint and sandpaper mezzotint. In his own work Anthony uses multi-plate images, up to 3 plates sometimes, so vibrant colour combinations can be achieved. By creating deep-etched plates and then using rollers with different viscosities of ink, it is always possible to create exciting images. This course will help to achieve such images.

Paper Gardener - Organic Printmaking with Nicholette Goff
4 - 6 June 2010 10.00am - 4.00pm
Nicholette Goff showcases her unique printing style based in the natural environment. She prints directly from natural structures capturing texture, form and traces of colour. Prints may be as small as a daisy head or as large as a Gunnera leaf. The workshop introduces unusual direct printing techniques. No inks or other colourants are used and this sensitive and inspiring process produces delicate and beautiful prints of plants. The landscape around Sudbury and the beautifully planted garden of Gainsborough's House will be the sources of inspiration for the workshop. Please bring gardening gloves and scissors. If you like to use embellishing materials such as threads and beads, bring them too!

These courses cost £190 and include basic materials. Additional materials and papers are available to buy at reasonable prices.

Children's Workshop

ARTSMART Saturday Club for Children
10.30 am - 12.30 pm
Sessions are taught by different tutors with a variety of specialist knowledge. Children have the opportunity to improve their artistic skills and learn about many artists and styles. The class is suitable for children aged 7 - 12 and makes use of the facilities in the Education Centre and the Print Workshop.
Autumn Term: 26 September - 5 December 2009
Spring Term: 16 January - 27 March 2010
Summer Term: 1 May - 10 July 2010

£65 per term (price includes all materials) For more information please phone 01787 372958

Courses and Workshops

Life Drawing
These sessions for adults are held in Gainsborough's House Education Centre (Hills Room), usually on the first Saturday of each month. Life drawing has traditionally been considered one of the most important skills for artists. Even for those who do not work in the figurative style, the understanding of shape and form gained from life drawing is invaluable. The sessions are not formally tutored so participants use the class for individual work. Anyone can join in from absolute beginners to experts. Please bring your own materials and paper. We ask you to arrive promptly out of courtesy to the model.
Dates for 2009/10: 5 September, 3 October, 7 November, 5 December, 9 January, 6 February, 6 March, 3 April, 8 May, 5 June, 3 July.

£17 per session. Hills Room, Gainsborough's House For further details contact 01787 372958

Term-time Day and Evening Courses in Printmaking

Courses from September 2009 cover a wide range of printmaking techniques. Classes are limited to twelve adult students. They are available for both newcomers to printmaking and those who are already familiar with printmaking who wish to develop their skills further. Courses are led by experienced tutors who demonstrate techniques and give individual support.
To discuss any aspects of the courses please contact Sue Molineux, Print Workshop Technician on 01787 372958 or email suem@gainsborough.org
Classes are booked per term. Those booking for a full year benefit from a 5% discount
Tuesday Morning Class 9.30am - 12.30pm
22 September - 1 December 2009
12 January - 23 March 2010
20 April - 29 June 2010
The classes (for adults 16+) cover relief printing, collagraphy, drypoint, etching, chine collé and screenprinting. Demonstrations of each technique are given and students are encouraged to experiment with different media and enjoy producing a body of work in a preferred technique. Composition, texture, tone and colour in printmaking are integral to the classes and students benefit sharing knowledge in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Wednesday Evening Class 7.30 - 9.30pm
23 September - 2 December 2009
13 January - 24 March 2010
21 April - 30 June 2010
These courses for adults (16+) include relief printing on wood, lino and hardboard, chine collé, viscosity printing, drypoint, monoprinting, collagraphy and screenprinting. These techniques will be introduced at the first session and thereafter students may work in their chosen medium at their own pace. This course is ideal either as an introduction to printmaking or for those who wish to gain more detailed knowledge of a technique with which they are already familiar. The classes are led by Ron Sims who trained at Manchester College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. He is a very experienced tutor, having taught the whole range of printmaking techniques to adults for many years.

Morning Class - £120 per ten week term Evening Class - £80 per ten week term Telephone 01787 372958 for further details or to book a place

Print Workshop Taster Days

These sessions invite newcomers to a particular printmaking technique to explore its potential. Practical demonstrations encourage confidence with materials and equipment. The Taster Days are led by Sue Molineux, our Print Workshop Technician, who is a keen printmaker and a qualified lecturer.


Tuesday, 27 October 2009 Seasons Greetings
Use our Workshop's collection of wooden type and lino blocks to print your own unique images for presents, gift wrapping and cards.

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 Drypoint Techniques
Work directly on paper, perspex and aluminium plates and experiment with mark making, tone and texture.

Tuesday, 13 April 2010 Monoprints
Experiment with colour and texture to produce a wide range of prints exploiting natural and found materials.

Tuesday, 1 June 2010 Screenprinting with Stencils
Using water-based inks, screenprinting with stencils is a quick, adaptable technique with limitless opportunity for colour use.

The fee for Taster Days is £30 and includes basic materials. Additional materials and papers are available to buy at reasonable prices

Telephone 01787 372958 for further details or to book a place.