This one day course is suitable for absolute beginners as well as printmakers from other fields who would like to add wood engraving to their portfolio.
Wood Engraving is a relief printing process where an image is engraved into the end grain of a hard wood (traditionally Box wood) with specialist engraving tools. The relief surface created is then inked and an impression taken onto paper by hand or by printing press. This British tradition of wood engraving, dating back to before it’s best known engraver, Thomas Bewick (d.1828), still continues today as illustration and independent prints.
The course:
You will be introduced to the materials, tools and processes with reference throughout the day to historic and contemporary wood engraving. Advice will be given on choosing and sharpening tools as well as their care and safe use.
• Preliminary drawings and design
• Transferring drawings to the block
• Cutting the block introducing the range of wood engraving tools
• Proofing and printing on the cylinder press
On the day you will cut and print one practice block then cut another block from which you will print a small limited edition (5-10 prints).