If you are a senior artist who wishes to learn how to make graphic editions of your art, or if you are a young ambitious artist who wants to improve your technique and build portfolio for applying to university program, or if you are just curious about the art of printmaking, you should apply to our printmaking course “Grafikskolan printmaking”. The printmaking course is a “vocational education” program that gives you the technical knowledge of printmaking using lithography, woodcuts and lino intaglio, serigraphy, and intaglio.
The application period opens February 15thand we start the process of examining admissions May 3rdand will continuously accept students seeking the opportunity until the 12 seats are filled and will end when the term starts. For the best chance of getting accepted, your application should be in no later than May 3.
The printmaking course will have an emphasizes on the lithographic craft, but naturally it also has all the necessary resources concerning the other techniques, intaglio, wood and linoleum, and serigraphy.
Within these separate procedures of printmaking there are in turn several traditional ways, as well as new, and experimental methods, that provide many different possibilities when creating images. It is not important which technique you intend to focus on as the curriculum covers all techniques. You will have the opportunity to dedicate yourself to one, or more, or all methods and techniques for printmaking editions.
The teacher staff includes Jean Michael Schmidt, who is primarily responsible for teaching lithography, and master printer William "Bill" Haberman. Bill has a primary responsibility for techniques in non-toxic etching, woodcut and lino, bookbinding/paper, and offset/photo plate etc in addition to lithography. Guest artists are also invited to use their knowledge share their expertise with the students.
Your personal development as an artist will evolve in dialogue with your teachers. They will give critique on technical skills and guidance on how to plan and carry out the purely practical aspects when making your images, so you learn to control the craft to realize your vision in print.
Through critical analysis in group sessions, technical choices, and practical decisions as well as artistic substance will be dissected. On these occasions, you develop knowledge in dialogues about art, and learn to defend your artistic work. The combined practical and theoretical classes will help the students develop substantial skills in how to produce editions with graphic prints that contain high artistic integrity.
The workshop is available for the students around the clock, every day including weekends throughout the school year.
LITHOGRAPHY – the technique of printing from stone has existed since the end of the 18th century when it was discovered in Germany. The principle is based on fat repelling water and was developed during the 19th century to become the leading method of commercial printmaking as the of colour was both quick and easy. A broad range of diversity in expression can be implemented to the stone.
COPPER - Intaglio printing, which is a technique that usually involves working with a sheet of copper. Copper printing is perhaps the most well-known method and has several technical possibilities to discover.
WOODCUTTING – The oldest method for reproduction was to print imagery by using so called woodcuts. With the help of cutting tools, sections are removed from a piece of wood (or “linoleum”). when rolled up the higher levels will transfer colour on paper.
SERIGRAPHY - Is the oldest of methods for reproduction of images. Colour is added to a paper when it is smoothed through a stencil that is applied to a thin weave of silk or polyester.
SELECTABLE PROGRAMS – Twice per semester and in a total of four weeks, the school offer all students at Helliden the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs where it is possible to try other disciplines. Every year there are different classes ranging from learning “Adobe illustrator”, working with clay and burn in a fire-pit, calligraphy, making a simple silver jewellery, writing novels and poetry, nature conservation etcetera.
FINAL EXHIBITION – Towards the end of the course, students will week of preparation and learn how to curate an exhibition in the Konstlitografiska Museum. The vernissage will run for a 4-week period with the opening night on the eve of the Walborg The Lithographic Academy will also award scholarships to exceptionally talented printmaking students.
APPLICATION – Submit to the program by sending an email to jm@skolahelliden.se. Include the following in the email.
A personal letter.
A government document of identity.
10 photos of your art.