This course is suitable for beginners or those with previous experience of wood engraving. You will be shown a variety of techniques and be guided though the process to create your own wood engraved prints. Methods of printing will be covered, and you will print by hand and use an Albion press.

The first evening will be spent putting wood engraving into context as a medium and beginning to engrave some initial exercises. During the summer school, you will first develop a small black and white engraving to experiment with tone and form, before moving onto larger lemonwood blocks which will allow for deeper experimentation with texture, form and cutting. You will be able to work on designs that you have brought with you or develop them during the course, with guidance in composition and draughtsmanship. There will be an emphasis on drawing using both still life compositions and drawing in the grounds of West Dean.

You will be shown how to print successfully from the wood engraving blocks and you will also study the work of contemporary and historical engravers. Correct techniques of registration will also be explored. Three wood blocks will be available for you to use on the course but you may wish to bring more, or blocks you have previously worked on.

Summer School highlights: The Summer School week is an immersive learning experience with more time to develop your creativity and embrace opportunities for creative development beyond your chosen course. A detailed timetable for your Summer School week will be given to you on arrival. This will include:

• Short inspirational talks by tutors and displays of their work
• A short creative experience session in another discipline/media or course
• An optional evening at the Chichester Festival Theatre (if pre-booked)
• An optional lunchtime tour of West Dean Gardens, the historic rooms at West Dean College, or West Dean Tapestry Studio
• A celebration dinner on the last evening themed on ‘going green’. Feel free to respond to the theme if you wish
• Informal end-of-course group reviews and displays of students' work in studios

As evening events are planned as part of the Summer School week, dinner is included in the course fee to enable all students, including non-residents, to participate fully.

Included

On this course the College will supply most of the materials including 3 lemonwood blocks per student plus a practice block, printing paper, tracing paper, marker pen, carbon paper, masking tape, black and coloured printing inks.

What students need to bring

• Possible design options consisting of drawings or photographs
• Sketchbook and a HB pencil
• Apron or old clothes
• Wood engraving tools if you have them (the college and tutor will provide the engraving tools you will need for the duration of the course)
• Any blocks you wish to continue with or print

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials including and extra printing paper you may need, basic linocut tools, lino, printing ink, pencils, pens and sketchbooks.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes). Possible equipment restrictions in tutor absence.

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required. 
Several evening events are planned throughout the week, a detailed timetable for your Summer School will be given to you on arrival.

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