Syllabus: Introduction to Woodcut + Etching ADSN 8888 | N | Spring 2020 Continuing Education

Course Information Location: Dates: Thu Jan 30 - Apr 9 Note: No class Spring Break ​

Instructor Information Name: Rebecca Gilbert ​ Email: Email Policy: Feel free to contact me with any questions and I will do my best to reply within 24 hours. ​

Instructor Bio:

Rebecca Gilbert works primarily in the mediums of woodcut, wood engraving, and intaglio to translate her drawings from the natural world into floating elemental reprieves - happy places that invite the viewer to slow down, live in the moment, and find optimism in that moment. Her work is characterized by a methodical technical approach to art making and a down-to-earth recognition of her own primal cravings.

Ms. Gilbert’s work is in numerous public collections, including: The Princeton University Graphic Arts Library, Zuckerman Museum of Art, and The Free Library of Philadelphia Print and Picture Collection. Her work is also in many private collections and has been exhibited extensively.

Among her most recent awards are an Independence Foundation Grant AND a Winterthur Artist/Maker Research Fellowship in 2018 to support her recent body of work, Visions of Plenty: Observation, Perception, Illusion, and ​ Reverie; an Artist-in-Residence at Sparkbox Studio in Picton, Ontario in 2017, a travel grant from The Center for ​ Emerging Visual Artists in 2015 to attend OCHO Artist Residency in Questa, New Mexico, and a Surdna Foundation Enrichment Grant to support her exploration of wood engraving at the Augusta Heritage Center in 2013.

Ms. Gilbert earned an MFA in Printmaking + Book Arts from The University of the Arts and a BFA in Printmaking from Marshall University. She also studied non-toxic etching at the Grafisk Eksperimentarium in Capileira, Spain. Rebecca currently serves on the board of The Wood Engravers’ Network and is represented by The Print Center Gallery Store. She lives and works in South Philadelphia and teaches at The University of the Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art, and Fleisher Art Memorial.

Course Description This course introduces two traditional printmaking processes: woodcut + etching. Woodcut is a relief process that involves carving an image into a plank of wood, rolling ink across the carved surface of the block, and using it to print your image onto paper. Etching is an intaglio process that involves printing from a metal plate which is etched with an image. The instructor will guide you through all of the steps necessary to translate your ideas using these graphic processes. You will start by working in black and white and later (time permitting) you will learn methods for incorporating color into your artwork. Students will become familiar with the tools, language, methods, and uarts.edu/ce | @uartsce | #UArtsCE ADSN 8888 | N SPRING 2020 ​

materials used for making unique prints as well as limited editions in a safe, clean, and friendly print shop environment.

Pre-requisites There are no prerequisites for this course; however, to ensure your success, it is recommended that students bring ideas in the form of sketches or photographs to work from and always come to class prepared with the necessary supplies.

Course Overview Class meetings will be divided between demonstrations, looking at examples, and time spent working in the studio.

Course Objectives/Learning Objectives At the end of this course, students will: • know how to properly hold, implement, and care for woodcut tools and etching tools • be able to safely operate an etching press • will know safe practices for using ferric chloride solution to etch copper etching plates • be familiar with using oil-based ink to print relief and intaglio prints • know how to sign and number an edition of prints • have gained some familiarity of artists that have historically worked in the mediums ​ • be able to express themselves visually through the mediums of woodcut and intaglio ​

Course Resources The following books and websites are good resources, but are not required.

Printmaking: A Complete Guide to Materials & Processes, Fick and Grabowski, 2009 ​

www.moma.org/exhibitions/2001/whatisaprint/flash.html

www.crownpoint.com/printmaking

Additional Course Materials | Supplies • Sketchbook (suggested, for notes, planning projects, and idea sketching) ​ ​ • shina plywood - will be available for purchase in class • Pencil • Apron • Newsprint pad 18” x 24” - available from Blick, Plaza Art, or Artist and Craftsman • Printing papers (will be discussed in class) - available from Blick, Plaza, or Artist and Craftsman • Ideas in the form of sketches or photographs to work from • Copper etching plate 4” x6”, or larger - available from Graphic Chemical, Renaissance Graphics, Blick, Plaza, or Artist and Craftsman • Etching needle - available from Graphic Chemical, Renaissance Graphics, Blick, Plaza, or Artist and Craftsman • Scraper - available from Graphic Chemical, Renaissance Graphics, Blick, Plaza, or Artist and Craftsman • Burnisher - available from Graphic Chemical, Renaissance Graphics, Blick, Plaza, or Artist and Craftsman • old paintbrushes, or cheap paint brushes

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• 1” foam brush - at least two of them - available from any art supply store, drug store, or hardware store • roll of paper towels • rubber gloves or nitrile gloves • If you already own woodcut tools, bring them with you to class on the first day. I’ll go over different types of tools available and suggest places to purchase tools during the first class meeting. Some tools will be available for use during class time, but many students may wish to purchase their own.

Optional supplies: • Soft White conté crayon • Medium black conté crayon • The instructor will have several sets of woodcut tools available for you to use during class hours. You may choose to purchase your own woodcut tools. The instructor will go over the pros and cons of different types of tools in class.

• A limited supply of Transfer paper and tracing paper will be provided in class. • Shellac will be provided in class. • Inks, solvents, and etchants will be provided for you to use in class. • Up to one can of spray paint will be provided in class.

Course Policies Student Feedback/Communication If you experience an emergency, which will prevent you from completing required coursework on time, please communicate with the instructor at the earliest opportunity. Please state the nature of the emergency and when you expect to turn in the coursework.

Attendance + Participation All students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly, and for the duration of the scheduled instructional time. Individual instructors will decide the optimum time for taking attendance and may penalize for habitual lateness or absence. Please notify the instructor if you expect to miss a class. Repeated absences may result ​ ​ in a grade of "F" for the course.

This course content is delivered through a series of presentations, examples and hands-on exercises in the print shop. Demonstrations build on one another so regular attendance is critical to your success. Students are expected to arrive on time and stay the length of the class. A student with more than two consecutive, or three total absences will not be able to pass the course, even if the absence is medically excused. Each absence past the first excused occurrence will result in a lowered grade. Any materials or announcements covered in class missed during an absence are the student’s responsibility. Lectures and class activities cannot be repeated.

Students who withdraw from a course must do so in writing. Non-attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal. ​

Syllabi Changes to the course content will be communicated by email from the instructor, and the Program Director will be copied. The syllabus is subject to change based on individual needs of the class at the instructor’s discretion.

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University Policies Academic Honesty/ Integrity Policy Violations of academic integrity are considered to be acts of academic dishonesty and include (but are not limited to) cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication, denying others access to information or material, and facilitating academic dishonesty, and are subject to disciplinary action. To review the Academic Honesty/ Integrity Policy in its entirety, ​ ​ please visit: http://cs.uarts.edu/ce/policies#academichonesty/integritypolicy ​

Student Code of Conduct It is the policy of the Division of Continuing Studies to provide a safe and healthy environment for learning, personal growth and enjoyment. The well-being of this community depends upon the good judgment and considerate behavior of its members. Student status at The University of the Arts is not an unconditional right, but a privilege subject to certain rules and expectations articulated in the Student Code of Conduct. To review the Student Code ​ of Conduct in its entirety, please visit: http://cs.uarts.edu/uploads/media_items/student-code-of-conduct.original.pdf ​ ​

Notice of Nondiscrimination The University expressly prohibits any form of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other protected classification in accordance with Federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws. If you have encountered any such form of harassment or discrimination, we encourage you to report this to the Title IX Coordinator and Diversity Administrator, Lexi Morrison, at [email protected]. ​ ​

Sexual violence, sexual harassment, intimate partner/dating violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct are considered forms of sex-based discrimination and are prohibited by University policy and by law. We encourage students to report any incidents of sexual misconduct by contacting the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected]. For more information about options and resources available to those who may have been impacted by sexual misconduct, please visit www.uarts.edu/titleix.

Office of Educational Accessibility UArts values diverse types of learners and is committed to ensuring that each student is afforded an equal opportunity to participate in all learning experiences. If you have or think you may have a learning difference or disability – including a mental health, medical, or physical impairment – that would impact your educational experience in this class, please contact the Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) at 215-717-6616 or [email protected] to register for appropriate accommodations. Faculty can provide course accommodations/modifications only after receipt of an approved accommodations letter from OEA.

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Grading Students taking the course for non-credit will still receive a PASS/FAIL grade. Students taking the course for credit will receive a letter grade based on the following criteria:

Component Examples of Components Points

Technical Achievement Technical success - the student explored 30 mark-making techniques relevant to the mediums of woodcut and etching, and followed the processes to make successful images and editions.

Content Development Ideas expressed by the artist are original, 20 meaningful, and clearly represented in the created images.

Craftsmanship The student demonstrates tight registration, 30 prints are signed and numbered properly, paper margins are clean and even, prints are evenly inked and editions are consistent, overall good craftsmanship

Work Ethic / Attendance / Shop assignments completed and on time, the student 20 Stewardship participates in class discussions, shows up to class prepared, demonstrates good shop etiquette, cleans properly, challenges themselves

Total 100

Your grade will be calculated using the following scale: Grade Percentage Range Grade Point A 100 – 93% 4.0 A- 92 – 90% 3.67 B+ 89 – 87% 3.33 B 86 – 83% 3.0 B- 82 – 80% 2.67 C+ 79 – 77% 2.33 C 76 – 73% 2.0 C- 72 – 70% 1.67

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D+ 67 – 69% 1.33 D 63 – 66% 1.0 F 59% or less 0.0 P Pass -

Projects will be graded in the following categories: Technical Achievement, Content Development, ​ Craftsmanship, and Participation / Work Ethic.

Schedule* SESSION + ​ ​ TOPIC COURSEWORK DUE DATE ​ ​ ​ ​ Introduction to woodcut, materials, and tools with Introduction examples. Demonstrate how to transfer an image and use Session 1 tools Jan. 30 In-Class work Work on image and transfer image to block Assignment Finalize your image and transfer to block

Review Carving techniques and demonstrate press usage, Sketch and Demonstrate paper preparation, registration, and printing Supplies due Session 2 and review today. Feb. 06 In-class work Begin carving image Assignment Continue carving image

Review Review as needed, discuss care and sharpening of tools Session 3 In-class work Carve and print Feb. 13 Prepare paper on own. Next week will be the final week Assignment to print woodcuts

Review As needed Carve and print woodcuts, discuss signing and numbering Paper prepared to Session 4 In-class work prints. print Feb. 20 Prepare a sketch for your etching. Bring copper plate to Assignment next class.

Introduce etching with brief history and examples Woodcuts due Introduce Demonstrate preparation of plates today. Etching Critique woodcuts and sketches for etching Sketch for etching Session 5 and etching Critique Feb. 27 supplies due today. FIle, polish, and degrease copper plates, apply hard In-class work ground Assignment Begin drawing on your etching plate No classes week of Spring Break March 5-9 Session 6 Review As needed March 05 Demonstration Line etch, inking and printing demonstration for intaglio

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Apply hard ground, draw onto plate, complete first etch, In-Class Work clean off plate, pull test print Assignment

Review As needed Session 7 Demonstration Demonstrate aquatint March 19 In-Class Work Work on etching and aquatint Assignment Prepare paper for printing

Review As needed State proof due Session 8 Critique Works in Progress today. March 26 In-Class Work Continue work on etching Assignment

Introduction to color - demonstration as requested Line etch with Demonstration aquatint due along Session 9 with state proofs April 2 Critique Critique etchings In-Class Work Work period Assignment

As needed Optional print Review trade Session 10 Critique Final project April 9 Students will have one hour to print at the beginning of In-Class Work class. We will use the remainder of class to clean and review final projects.

*Lectures and Projects subject to change throughout the course determined by the Instructor. Any changes to syllabus will be emailed to students, and the Program Director will be copied.

Assignments/ Projects •Black and white woodcut, edition of 4, Due March 1st •Black and white etching with aquatint, edition of 3, and at least 1 state proof, Due April 5th •Optional introduction to color printing (as time permits), Due April 12th

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