Making Colour Etchings
Develop multi-colour printmaking skills in this 5 day course.
Course overview
This five-day course is for art practitioners with some previous printmaking experience who wish to develop multi-colour printmaking skills. You will have access to our fully equipped etching facility with specialist technical tutoring and support.
Over the course, a series of workshops will instruct on zinc etching with various acid resistant grounds and aquatints as well as different approaches to colour inking and printing. You will have the opportunity to develop a large-scale zinc etching (maximum size A2) plate or smaller plates over the week exploring drawing, marks, tone and colour.
Course details
A chance to spend five days immersed in the creative practice of colour etching, in our professional-standard etching facility and studios and on location in St Ives. After an introduction to the space you will prep and etch a test plate, followed by considering your source material and objectives for the week and beginning your work with larger plates.
We’ll visit Porthmeor Studios and the Tate in St Ives, with Drypoint plates available for outdoor working.
You will be guided through a series of workshops on zinc etching, exploring various acid resistant grounds and aquatints with test plates. We will also cover colour mixing and different approaches to colour inking and printing.
Following best-practice registration methods and resolving your work, on the final afternoon you will come together with students from our screen printing, drawing, and painting courses for a private view and opportunity to discuss your work.
You will have a dedicated shared studio for the duration of the course, with enough space for you to creatively breathe and explore. The studio will be open from 09:00 – 21:00 each day.
What you need to know
This five-day short course next dates are to be confirmed. If you would like to be kept informed please email us.
With dedicated studio access at our Falmouth Campus, you'll have the opportunity to develop your creative practice through a balance of taught technical skills during masterclasses in the mornings and supported skill development and practice in the afternoons in our professional-standard Printmaking facilities.
One day will feature a trip to Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and the Tate St Ives to gather ideas in response to what you see.
Our Falmouth Campus is set in subtropical gardens and is just a few steps from Falmouth town centre or a short stroll to the shores of Gyllyngvase beach.
Find out more about the facilities, access, cafes and more at Falmouth campus.
- Source material - any drawings/prints/photos you wish to work from
- Overalls, apron, old clothing you don't mind getting messy!
- Shoes which have full foot coverage - i.e. no open-toed sandals, flip flips, etc.
All equipment and materials required are provided, but if you prefer to use your own tools and materials please bring:
- Own drawing materials if preferred
- Own printmaking tools if preferred
- Own paper if preferred
All materials and specialist tools and equipment required are included in the course fee, however you may wish to bring your own drawing/printmaking materials and tools if preferred.
Accommodation is not included in this course cost.
If you would like to book accommodation, please find some suggestions below. Please note that we are not responsible for any accommodation costs incurred, including as a result of the course being rescheduled or cancelled.
There are a range of hotels and B&Bs available in Falmouth, within walking distance of our Falmouth Campus. We can facilitate a corporate rate for the following hotels if booked via us. If you would like to take advantage of this for your booking, please contact us.
Merchants Manor
Address: Western Terrace, TR11 4QJ
Contact details: 01326 312734
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.2 miles
Parking: 60 spaces available on site
St Michaels Resort
Address: Gyllyngvase Beach, TR11 4NB
Contact details: 01326 312707
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.2 miles
Parking: Reserved for overnight guests on a first come first served basis
The Greenbank Hotel
Address: Harbourside, TR11 2SR
Contact details: 01326 312440
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.9 miles
Parking: Handful of marked bays in front of hotel plus underground car park
Penryn Campus
This course is based on our Falmouth Campus. If you would like to stay on-campus at our Penryn campus, our Penryn student halls accommodation can be booked. This is a simple and affordable accommodation option and there is a regular bus service from Penryn Campus to Falmouth. A mix of double and twin bedrooms are available, each with bed, desk and en-suite shower room. Bedding and towels are provided. You should bring your own toiletries. There are shared kitchen facilities.
Lunch and tea/coffee included each day on campus, and all diets can be catered for.
On the day-trip to St Ives, lunch is not included as there will be enough of a break in the middle of the day to visit a café of your choice, or choose a takeaway lunch to take to the beach!
Course programme
This is an outline of what to expect for the week. Each day will include lunch, with time to socialise with your fellow students.
Day 1
After an introduction to the etching space, you’ll learn how to prepare, ground and print a zinc test plate. In the afternoon you’ll begin preparing larger plates in response to source materials and objectives.
Day 2
Trip to St Ives. We will visit Porthmeor Studios for talks and a private tour, as well as the Tate St Ives.
Drypoint plates will be provided for mark making and drawing, to be printed on the following day.
Day 3
Back in the printmaking studio, you’ll have an introduction to aquatint and various resists to add tonal values to your etching. In the afternoon there will be a Sugar Lift demo, followed by supported independent practice with larger plates.
Day 4
Today you’ll explore colour after a demonstration of 3 different multi-colour printing methods. There will be plenty of time and support to develop your etching and printing.
Day 5
The final day will begin with registration techniques, best print practice advice, and continued printmaking to develop and resolve your work. In the late afternoon the course will conclude with a mini-exhibition / Private View of your work with our other Art Week course participants and a chance to celebrate your achievements.
Becky Haughton
This course is facilitated by Becky Haughton.
Becky Haughton works as a senior technician in printmaking; instructing and supporting students and staff in a range of traditional print processes at the Falmouth Campus printmaking workshops. She specialises in monotype, etching, photo etching, relief and screen printing and works with students based at the Falmouth Campus. She has particular responsibility for introducing BA(Hons) Illustration students to the workshop.
Find out more
Where will the course take place?
Printmaking studios, Falmouth Campus
This course is taught in our Printmaking facilities on our Falmouth Campus and you will have your own dedicated studio space nearby for the duration of the course.
One day will feature a trip to Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and the Tate St Ives.
Our Falmouth Campus is set in subtropical gardens and is just a few steps from Falmouth town centre or a short stroll to the shores of Gyllyngvase beach.
Find out more about the facilities, access, cafes and more at Falmouth Campus.
Download our Falmouth Campus map below
Explore our printmaking facilities
Important information
Our campus is not fully accessible, with some activities in early Victorian three storey buildings. Please contact us if you have questions about mobility and access.
We are currently refurbishing our library building on the Falmouth Campus. Please note: there will be some noise in and near this building, which is located opposite the Printmaking studios. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Download our Terms & Conditions below
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