Japanese Woodblock Printing

with Charles Woodruff Coates

July 5, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Tuition: $100

Materials Fee: $20

In this workshop you will learn the essentials of Japanese Woodblock printing and design and carve a 4 x 6 inch woodblock to make original 6-9 prints using Sumi ink and Japanese Paper. Demonstrations on successful image design, safe carving techniques, and printing on a variety of papers will be presented. Woodblock printing is non-toxic and requires no special equipment, so you can continue using this process in your home. Perfect for beginners, experienced printmakers, and anyone looking to delve into the world of Japanese Woodblock printing.

Plan to bring: All materials are provided but students are encouraged to bring a sketchbook and basic drawing materials.

Charles Coates (he/him) is a printmaking artist and educator who specializes in relief printing. As the founder of Block Paper Print, he teaches both in-person and online courses that make printmaking accessible to all skill levels. His large-format woodcut prints depict gothic cathedrals and relate them to contemporary notions of the self as works-in-process; they are featured in collections across Boston, Tokyo, and Palo Alto. Charles holds an MFA and Gallup StrengthsCoaching certification. He currently teaches at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and conducts workshops for individuals and teams.

Natural Ink Making

with Elizabeth Schmuhl

July 12, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Tuition: $200

Materials Fee: $10

Create original paintings, book marks, and cards with freshly foraged, handmade inks—and gain some inspiration for future inky experiments! We'll begin the day outside foraging for plants and other natural materials. You are also encouraged to bring plants or other materials from home; anything can be used to create ink! Next, we will learn the ink-making process using your new found materials. Wrap up the day by experimenting with your fresh inks on different substrates.

Plan to bring: Ink making materials are provided but students should bring a notebook and anything natural from their home/garden they'd like to try to make ink with. It is recommended that students dress for the weather and foraging including wearing tall socks, long sleeves, and a hat.

Elizabeth Schmuhl is a multidisciplinary artist who creates work that explores nature, movement, and memory. Schmuhl deeply investigates the natural world, its cycles, and entropy, all of which inform her work. Schmuhl is a multidisciplinary artist and the author of Premonitions (Wayne State University Press). Her book of paintings created with natural ink from her centennial fruit farm in Benton Harbor, The Four Seasons, is out from Greying Ghost Press. Fishes of the Great Lakes, a book containing paintings with natural inks made entirely from the Great Lake watershed and materials that surround it, is her newest art book. She has shared her work globally and holds an MFA and a BA (University of Michigan). Schmuhl has taught at University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and elsewhere.

Nature's Impression: Linocut Printing

with Lee Ann Frame

August 2, 10:00 a.m–1 p.m.

Tuition: $100

Materials Fee: $20

In Ox-Bow's print studio, students will learn how to transfer a drawing to a block, carve a linocut, create effective positive and negative space, ink, add color through various processes, and register their hand pulled print. Demonstrations will guide students through these basics and include adding color with handmade papers and inking and embossing with natural shapes and textures inspired by the Ox-Bow landscape.

Plan to bring: Sketchbook, drawings or photos to transfer, pencil, and apron. 

Lee Ann Frame was born and raised near the shores of Lake Michigan. She earned an MFA in printmaking and taught for 17 years. Currently she leads workshops for local and international groups. She has exhibited in juried exhibitions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art Mezzanine Store Gallery, Boston Printmakers Biennial, Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Cleveland Museum of Art, and ISEA International, receiving several awards. Frame is a member of the Boston Printmakers; Society of American Graphic Artists (a board member); South West Michigan Printmakers; and California Society of Etchers. Her residencies include Ireland, Spain, and the East Coast. She is published in the Boston Printmakers Members News. Collected by: Newark Public Library Newark; Alma College, Michigan; Muskegon Museum of Art, Michigan; Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan; Henry Ford Medical Center, Bloomfield, Michigan; Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan; and in many private and corporate institutions.