Schedule

Workshops
Master Classes
Other Options
Open Studio

Workshops

Monotype Workshop            
Tuesday evenings 6-9 PM
April 2-23
with resident artist Liz Chalfin
$150 + $30 materials
This class is an exploration of the rich, unique print medium of monotype. Monotype is the most direct form of printmaking. Explore new approaches to monotype using brilliant, archival, water-based inks. You'll learn additive and subtractive techniques and use of stencils and masks. There will be plenty of time for personal exploration and print development. This class is for people new to monotype or experienced monotype printers who are interested in exploring new inks and their unique qualities.

"Human Vessels I", monotype Liz Chalfin

Etching Workshop
Thursday evenings, 6-9 PM
April 4-25
with resident artist Liz Chalfin
$150 + $30 materials

or

Thursday evenings 6-9 PM
May 9- June 13 (6 weeks)
with resident artist Liz Chalfin
$200 + $30 materials
This etching class will provide an in-depth opportunity to explore safer approaches to traditional etching on copper. The acrylic-resist products and techniques allow for beautiful prints without exposing yourself to toxic materials. Participants will work in numerous processes including etching, drypoint, aquatint, and soft ground. Color printing methods, chine collé and many other master printer's tricks will be covered. There will be plenty of time for personal exploration and print development. Come to learn etching for the first time or to explore another approach to a familiar medium.

untitled etching, Liz Chalfin

Collagraph Workshop

Tuesday evenings 6-9 PM
May 7- June 18 (no class June 4)
with resident artist Liz Chalfin
$200 + $30 materials
This six-week workshop will explore the exciting realm of collagraphs - prints made from collaged printing plates. Collagraphs use shape, texture and color in a wide variety of ways to make beautiful monoprints. A single printing plate can be printed in a myriad of ways to create many unique images. Collagraph is wonderful for artists who want to explore an alternative to drawing and painting. You will make many different printing plates in this workshop and explore a wide range of inking and printing techniques. No previous printmaking experience necessary.

"Shofar Blower" collagraph, Liz Chalfin

New and different workshops are added every few months. Check back to see what's coming up!

Specialty Workshops

Monotype from the Model Workshop      
Saturday 10 am -4 pm
May 18
with guest artist Martha Ebner
$75 + $25 materials
Take your figure drawing to a new medium. Spend the day creating monotypes from a live model at Zea Mays Printmaking. Monotype is a painterly printmaking technique that allows one to work more loosely and spontaneously. In this workshop we will be working on plexiglas plates using oil-based inks and printing the images on traditional print paper using an etching press. This class is about experimenting with figurative work using various mark making techniques and rice paper collage. Students are encouraged to bring their own paintbrushes and rice/traditional print paper. No previous printmaking required. Some drawing experience preferred.

"Figure in Motion," monotype, Martha Ebner

Woodcut Techniques - Reduction Method in Two Colors   
Saturday/Sunday 10 am - 4 pm     
June 8-9
with guest artist Bobette McCarthy
$170 +$ 30 materials
In this intensive workshop we will start with a brief overview of relief printmaking and the various methods used to produce colored woodcut prints including reduction and key block methods. Design considerations, block preparation, tool care, making cuts and the selection of appropriate papers and inks will be discussed. Participants will prepare, in advance, a two color drawing, 8x10 or slightly smaller for use in class. This drawing will serve as the guide for a completed woodblock print. Tools for use during the workshop, including a prepared block will be provided. No previous printmaking experience necessary.

"Winter Birch Landscape," woodcut, Bobette McCarthy

Living Paper from Local Fibers: Handmade Paper from the Garden
Saturday/Sunday 10 am - 4 pm
June 22-23
with guest artist Sheryl Jaffe
$170 + 30 materials
This is an excellent time to harvest fibers that are found right outside. The green leaves of Day Lilies, Irises, Tulips, and grass clippings when combined with flax, abaca and cotton make uniquely textured handmade papers. These papers can be durable yet delicate, luminous and translucent. We will harvest and prepare plants, laminate sheets, use flower petals for dyes and inclusions, experiment with drying methods, and create numerous sheets of different sizes and shapes. The paper you make will be artworks in their own right, or can be used for bookmaking, collage, printmaking, drawing, etc. Both your garden and paper will become part of a whole new world of creativity.

detail, handmade paper, Sheryl Jaffe

Nature Prints - Monotype Workshop
Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
July 13
with guest artist Anita Hunt
$75 + 25 materials
In this one-day workshop we will work with the summertime abundance of plant materials to create lush and colorful monotypes. We will print directly from the plants themselves - leaves, flowers, grasses, twigs - and build up layers of color on thin Japanese papers. Additional layering work using stencils, lace papers, string and other found objects will be explored. The results are rich surfaces with an amazing variety of form and texture. Participants will create several multi-plate monotypes during the day and will also produce some beautiful pieces of decorative paper for use in other projects such as collage and book arts. No prior printmaking experience necessary.

paper samples, Anita Hunt

Artists' Books
Monday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm
July 15-19
with guest artist Sheryl Jaffe and resident artist Liz Chalfin
$400 + 50 materials
Artists' books are unique works of art that use the idea of a book as a jumping off point for a work of art that can be narrative, sequential or randomly linked. This workshop will begin in the Rare Book Room at Smith College where we'll have an opportunity to look and handle many inspiring artists' books from their collection. We'll discuss different types of book structures and different ways to approach the open-ended idea of an "artist's book" with curator Martin Antonetti. We'll return to Zea Mays Printmaking and begin exploring printmaking techniques such as monoprints and linocuts. Each participant will develop their own idea for an artists' book and will create the book with the skilled assistance of book artist Sheryl Jaffe and printmaker Liz Chalfin. In addition Sheryl will teach several types of bookmaking techniques, including: accordion fold, Japanese stab bindings, and pamphlet stitch. You'll come away with a unique "livre d'artiste" and the skills to continue making artist's books on your own.

books by Sheryl Jaffe

Photographic Imagery and Collagraphs
Wednesday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm
August 7-9
with resident artist Liz Chalfin
$250 + 50 materials
This three-day workshop will explore the integration of photographic imagery into collagraphs - collaged printmaking plates, which are inked as monoprints. We'll use Imag-On film to transfer photographs, digital imagery, text or drawn imagery onto collagraph plates and further develop the plate with collage. Multi-plate printing, layered inking and monoprinting will be taught as part of this rich expansion of collagraphs.

"Diving Into Spirituality," photo/collagraph, Liz Chalfin

Master Classes

Chiaroscuro Intaglio            
Saturday/Sunday 10-4
March 23-24
with guest artist Mark Zunino
$170 + 30 materials
Mark Zunino returns to share his passion for etching and this wonderful technique. "Chiaroscuro" refers to the beautiful gradations of dark to light typified by Renaissance painting. In this workshop we'll explore a unique way of making velvety, mezzotint-like prints that combine drypoint and aquatint in a multiple plate printing process. Mark Zunino developed this process and comes to Zea Mays from Smith College to share his expertise. This workshop is for those who love etching and who want to infuse new ways of creating light in their prints. Some printmaking experience helpful.

"Two cups and a Vase", etching, Mark Zunino

Intensive Intaglio Workshop
Monday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm   
June 24-28
with guest artists Mark Zunino, Peter Pettengill and resident artist Liz Chalfin
$400 + 50 materials
This is going to be fun! We'll start the week out in the field working out ideas and compositions under the guidance of guest artist Mark Zunino. With a small etching press in the back of the van, Mark will help participants develop drypoint drawings that will later become color etchings. Resident artist Liz Chalfin will introduce monotype in the field to work out color ideas and guest artist/master printer Peter Pettengill will begin developing strategies for integrating ideas into multi-plate etchings. Back at Zea Mays Printmaking, Peter will work with participants to translate their "sketches" into multi color prints. Peter, Mark and Liz will assist participants with idea and plate development. Don't miss this opportunity to work with three professionals that each bring a unique perspective on printmaking and a passionate love of the medium.

Mark Zunino examining a print

Multi-plate, Color Intaglio - A Master Printer's Perspective
Monday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm
July 22-26
with guest artist Peter Pettengill
$400 + 50 materials
This is an opportunity for artists with some printmaking experience to work with a master printer and explore methods and concepts for developing multi-plate, color images. Working with a variety of intaglio techniques, each participant will begin with an image or image idea and spend a week working closely with master printer Peter Pettengill to create a multiple plate color print. As we proceed we will cover issues of registration, offsetting techniques, ways to work in color as well as chine collé and multi-viscosity printing. Participants can work at their own speed with advice from the master printer. Peter will bring some of the prints that he has produced as a master printer to show, to talk about and to inspire!

"Yoruba Figure," color etching, Liz Chalfin

Lifts, Bites and Washes
Monday-Friday 10 am - 4 pm
August 19-23
with resident artist Liz Chalfin and guest artist Mark Zunino
$400 + 50 materials
Sounds kinky but it's really an exploration into unique etching techniques. Sugar lifts, spit bites and washes are painterly ways to approach the etching process and add distinct character to the print. With spit bite you can achieve subtle tonal variations. Sugar lift gives you the spontaneous look of a brush painting or pen drawing. Washes are just that - beautiful reticulated washes you etch into the copper. You'll learn all three techniques during this week and apply them to a fully realized, color intaglio print. Some prior printmaking experience necessary.

"Magnolia," spit bite/drypoint, Louise Kohrman

Other Options

People who have taken a class, workshop or private instruction at Zea Mays can come and use the press and facilities during Open Studio hours. Open Studio access is limited to 4 artists at any given time, to insure plenty of space. Technical assistance is available during Open Studio, although no instruction will take place. Advance reservations are required. Call 413.584.1783 to make reservations.

Days/Hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 AM - 4 PM (except holidays and special circumstances)
Saturday - 4/27: 10 AM - 5 PM

Rates:
$10/hour + materials fee ($10 per printing session)
You must reserve a minimum 3-hour block.

Special Rates:
Prepay $100 for Open Studio Access in any given month and receive 15 hours of open studio time (to be used in a single month.) Materials fee not included. A $50 savings!

Summer 2002 Open Studio
10 am - 5 pm
The studio will be available for artists to work independently during the following weeks. You can sign up for 3-hour blocks, an entire day or an entire week. Bring your own materials or pay a materials fee for use of studio supplies.

July 8-12
July 29 - August 2
August 12-16
August 26-30

Hourly rate: $10/hr.
Daily rate: $50/1 day, $90/2 days, $130/3 days, $170/4 days
Weekly rate: $200/week
Check with Liz for open studio availability at least 48 hours in advance. Open studio includes the use of press, tools, etching chemicals and newsprint. Bring your own inks, paper and plates or purchase them at the studio.

Private Lessons
Private and semi-private lessons are available to those seeking to learn safer printmaking processes on an individually scheduled basis. Prices are as follows:

$25/hr. for 1 person, $30/hr. for 2 people, $36/hr. for 3 people

call the studio to discuss options and make arrangements

Individual Collaborations
Artists who are interested in creating an edition of prints with the technical assistance of a master printer can make arrangements to do so at Zea Mays. Call the studio for details.

Zea Mays on the Road
Bring Zea Mays' director Liz Chalfin to your facility for a demonstration and/or slide lecture. Call for info and to schedule a visit.