Immerse yourself in the art of printmaking at the beautiful Phoenix Studio in Oxfordshire. This 5-day retreat, open to all skill levels, offers an opportunity to experiment with new techniques, refine your existing skills, and develop a body of work in an inspiring, rural setting—complete with wildlife and resident chickens!
This retreat covers a range of printmaking techniques, including collagraph, drypoint, and monotype. Throughout the week, you’ll have the chance to explore and combine these methods, taking ideas from initial sketches to finished prints. Expect a balance of demonstrations, hands-on practice, and group support as you move through the creative process.
Jenny McCabe, is a highly experienced printmaker with over 25 years of teaching under her belt. Her warm and approachable teaching style ensures that whether you’re a beginner or an advanced artist, you’ll find support and guidance in discovering or honing your artistic voice.
This intimate course will be limited, ensuring plenty of individual attention and support throughout the week.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave not only with a deeper understanding of printmaking techniques but also with completed pieces ready to be displayed!
COURSE DETAILS
DAY 1:
Card Collagraph
_____
Introduction to techniques with live demonstrations.
We’ll examine existing works and plates, followed by warm-up exercises to familiarise yourself with the materials.
DAY 2/3:
Card Collagraph
_____
Drawing sessions and idea development.
You’ll begin making your plates and experimenting with print editions.
DAY 4:
Card Collagraph
_____
Continued plate making and print production, with time to refine your techniques and create finished pieces.
DAY 5:
Card Collagraph
_____
Finalising work and focusing on mounting and displaying your prints for presentation.
This week course includes:
- You’ll get step by step guidance from Jenny throughout the sessions
- With visual presentation and demonstrations to inspire
- A relaxed, informal learning atmosphere and a community of fellow artists and crafters to share the learning experience with
- Relaxed & attentive one-to-one guidance for every student
You will learn:
- Select and utilize suitable images and reference materials for developing unique printmaking concepts.
- Create Collagraph plates using cardboard and found materials, mastering the process of building textured surfaces.
- Understand and apply printmaking techniques by hand and using small presses, including both relief and intaglio methods.
- Explore Drypoint printmaking, learning how to directly incise lines and marks into a plate (such as acrylic or metal) using sharp tools to create rich, expressive prints.
- Experiment with abstract and figurative printmaking to explore personal artistic expression.
- Manipulate printing plates through techniques like carving, scratching, peeling, and indenting to achieve sculptural effects in Collagraph, and etching fine lines in Drypoint.
- Use layering techniques to produce bold, dynamic prints with depth and texture.
- Express your individual style through mark-making, texture, color choices, and composition in your prints.
- Edit and mount your finished work professionally, ensuring it is well-presented for display.
In this professional artists’ studio
- You’ll get step by step guidance from Jenny throughout the sessions
- With visual presentation and demonstrations
- A relaxed, informal learning atmosphere and a community of fellow artists and crafters to share the learning experience with
- Frequent refreshments – tea, coffee, cake & biscuits included
- In a beautiful countryside setting
Suitable for?
Anyone. We generally advise that students be 14 years old+ though exceptions can be made where appropriate.
Pre course prep:
- Throughout the course you have the opportunity to work from your own ideas and develop them in your own unique way. On day two you will be working with your own chosen images – these could be photos, drawings, news print or diagrams…
- With that in mind, we ask that you collect images that inspire or mean something to you
- On booking you will be given on advice on what images work best with each technique so that you can make informed decisions
This course is for you if:
- You want to learn new skills
- You need a creative confidence boost because this medium is easy to learn and allows for nice artist exploration
- You want to create unique, bespoke gifts for family and loved ones!
- You want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in a fun, creative environment
- You love creativity and want to try a little known medium
Beyond The Course
Having completed the course there are possibilities for you to continue to explore etching further. Jenny can advise you in where to source materials and equipment.
Need accommodation?
If you are travelling from further afield and would like to stay in the area for your visit then have a look at our recommended list of local B&Bs and hotels.
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Jenny McCabe is an artist and printmaker with over 20 years experience of making and exhibiting work. Based in Lancaster in the Northwest of England she works from her own studio and she also teaches regularly in print rooms around the country.
Jenny works mainly with intaglio printmaking methods preferring Collagraph and metal plate etchings. Her work always starts with drawing and the technical challenge of turning a simple piece of metal or card into a piece of art.
Jenny’s drawings are messy and energetic, her current focus is on birds and wildlife aiming to capture the frantic movement and energy of her subjects.
Card Collagraph
The wonderful thing about cardboard is its easy to cut the plates so we can make shaped plates, I often cut out my plates to be the shape of the birds I print or use opened out boxes to create an interesting edge to the plate, the possibilities are endless.
Jenny McCabe – Course Tutor
Jenny gets great feedback from her courses. Here are just a couple of testimonials:
Thank you so much for an amazing weekend. I feel so inspired and re energised after what has been a really tough few months. The phoenix studio is a wonderful place to come to, so welcoming and the creative is always abundant.Jenny, your energy and enthusiasm was catching! I came away buzzing. You seemed to have some sixth sense for when anyone was about to reveal their print, and your reaction to our work was really encouraging.
Thank you for a great course. I had fun and learned loads. I can see that collagraph might be somewhat addictive – I’ve already acquired some mountboard offcuts so I can start trying to make a few plates!(collagraph course September 2022)
Many thanks to Jenny for a fabulous weekend. Great fun and I learnt loads.(collagraph course September 2022)
Comments are closed.