Etching Short Course

About this course

Participants investigate intaglio printmaking through practical exercises supported by visual references to traditional and contemporary artists. The workshop covers etching, aquatint, sugar lift and drypoint, with attention to the different marks and surfaces each process can produce. Learners explore how sketches can be translated onto etched metal plates, then experiment with layered printing and combinations of etching, monoprint and chine collé. Discussions and exercises address composition, contrast, space and rhythm, including ways to build colour and texture into printed images.

What you'll learn

• Apply etching, aquatint, sugar lift and drypoint processes
• Recognise and produce a range of intaglio marks, from fine detail to textured surfaces
• Translate drawn ideas into etched metal plate designs
• Experiment with layered printing, including combinations of etching, monoprint and chine collé
• Analyse compositional approaches involving contrast, space and rhythm

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for artists, creatives, managers and entrepreneurs in the creative industries who are taking their first steps in printmaking or want to explore intaglio processes. The Beginner label indicates an introductory level, while the practical format involves experimenting with several techniques and printing methods.

• Suitable for learners new to printmaking
• Relevant to people working or aspiring to work in creative industries
• Includes experimentation across several intaglio and layered printing processes