Back to All Events

Intro to Relief Printmaking


Relief block (above) and print (below) by Anda Tanaka

Relief printing is considered the most ancient form of printmaking and has a distinctive, timeless quality. During this six-week course students will learn to make relief prints using a variety of carving tools and printing blocks. We will also look at examples of the relief print—from 9th century China to the present—in order to consider the expressive potential of the medium and consider its contemporary application and relevance. Students will learn multiple ways of creating imagery through carving and take on a reductive relief print, in which a multi-color print is achieved through layering several versions of a single block. Students can expect to create 2 editions, or sets of identical prints, over the course of the class.

About the Instructor: Anda Tanaka is a Minneapolis-based artist and educator working primarily in printmaking and drawing. She has exhibited work nationally, including a solo show at Winona State University in 2017 where she gave an hour-long lecture to students and community members. Most recently, she has exhibited at Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis and won the 2022 Best Emerging Artist Award at the Octagon Center for the Arts’ juried show, Octagonal, in her hometown of Ames, Iowa. Anda holds a BA in music and studio art from St. Olaf College and an MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

PLEASE NOTE: Students will need to furnish their own woodcut tools for this class. Many suitable beginner sets are available, including Namesei, Powergrip and Flexcut. The major difference between these beginner sets is the type of handle. When purchasing tools, try to determine which handle type you would prefer and buy that brand. Namesei tools can be cut to any length, and require some preparation.


REGISTRATION DETAILS
Registration and payment may be completed through this website. Please call 612-871-1326 or email info@highpointprintmaking.org if you wish to pay with cash or check, or have any questions.

Please note that proof of vaccination or negative covid test within 72 hours of the class is required for all students. We are also currently requiring masks to be worn during classes, regardless of vaccination status.

DISCOUNTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
A 10% discount is available for Highpoint Members. a limited number of full tuition scholarships are available to veterans and through the Full Color Print Scholarship, which provides free classes to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Request a scholarship for this class by clicking the button below, or call, email or visit Highpoint. See our Discounts and Scholarships page for more details.

Scholarship spots are full for this class.