| Etching from Nature

Make beautiful and unique prints using nature as your reference in this hands-on etching press workshop for all skill levels.

Making art from the nature around us can be both challenging and deeply inspiring. Etching in particular can add a layer of complexity to the process, but it gives us tools to render our image with texture and depth that is hard to achieve through any other media. Etchings also allow us to make multiple images creating countless possibilities.

From spending time outside to gather botanical reference materials to learning the basics and nuances of the technical process, we will explore image making, technique, and composition in this week-long workshop. Guided by drawing and printmaking instructor Sarah Horowitz we will make etchings from plants or other objects we find through a variety of methods. From drawing to painting, layering textures, or scraping and polishing – etching is a versatile medium that lends itself to the artist’s preferred way of creating an image. 

One doesn’t need to be good at drawing to create a beautiful etching. Also, participants can use photos as reference materials for their etchings. Each participant will learn to prepare a plate, make an image, etch it, and print a small edition of at least one of their images. This course is appropriate for all levels of ability. Beginners will learn a new process and approach to image making, while anyone with previous experience will learn new techniques and have the chance to expand their ideas and skills.