Try Printmaking through Living Social

Living Social is now offering 3 hour printmaking workshops in April for $29 each.  These are short samples of solarplate etching and relief printmaking but individuals will be able to complete a finished print in the class.  If you have ever wanted to try your hand at art in general or printmaking specifically these classes are an easy way to give it a try.  
How it works:   You go to Living Social and find the ad for Art Classes at the Phoenix Center or click here.  You select the class and date and time that you want, then you purchase a voucher on Living Social.  Then you call the Phoenix Center for the Arts to register for a specific Living Social class.  If you have any problems, call Alissa at 602 254 3100.

While you are enjoying one of my printmaking classes in April, you can also see my solo exhibition at the Phoenix Center Gallery!  Such a bonus!!

Upcoming Class Offerings

APRIL 15 -25, 2013
I am offering 10 short intro classes through Living Social and they should be available for registration on March 29th and 30th.  The price is $29 and both Solarplate Etching and Relief Printmaking will be offered on various days and times of day.  If you know someone who has always wanted to try their hand at printmaking or art, these are easy and fun introductions where they can walk away with a piece of a completed fine art print!  If you aren't familiar with Living Social and have questions, let me know.  

MAY/JUNE
JULY/AUGUST
Solarplate Etching and What A Relief! classes are offered in two 6 week sessions this summer.  There are also 6 week Open Studio classes on Mondays or Saturdays for those pressless printmakers needing time with a wonderful Takach press. 

All classes are held at the Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. 3rd Street. Summer classes are open for registration now.  Click here.   

I've had a couple requests for Reduction Relief and would be happy to put together a class if I can get 5 people interested.  Let me know if this is up your alley and I will figure out a way to make it happen.

Los Angeles 21st National Exhibition

I just received notice today that my print, "Native Son," was accepted into the exhibition sponsored by the LA Printmaking Society.  The juror selected 56 artists from 1485 image entries.  Feeling pretty special right now!  The exhibition isn't until October but it will be at Cal State at Northridge Art Galleries from October 26th to December 14th.  

Register Now for February Printmaking Classes

The next 5 or 6 week session is open for Solarplate and Relief classes.  I have added an evening Solarplate class  Wednesday and a couple 3 week Open Studio Classes on Saturdays (not consecutive)

WENDY WILLIS, RESIDENT ARTIST - PRINTMAKING PHOENIX CENTER FOR THE ARTS     February/April Printmaking Classes SOLARPLATE ETCHING WEDNESDAY 1:00-5:00P 2/13-3/13 $200 WEDNESDAY 6:00-9:00P 2/13-3/20 $200 WHAT A RELIEF       THURSDAY 1:00-4:00P  2/14-3/14 $155 THURSDAY 6:00-9:00P 2/14-3/14 $155 PRINTMAKING OPEN STUDIO     SATURDAY 2/9, 2/16, 3/2 10:00a-3:00p 2/9-3/2 $125 SATURDAY 3/9, 3/30, 4/6 10:00a-3:00p 3/9-4/6 $125 For more information go online at phoenixcenterforthearts.org
Call 602 - 254-3100 to register or click here.

RELIEF-A-RAMA

NEW MATERIALS 
I am teaching a relief printmaking class at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.  In preparation, I ordered some relief supplies from Dick Blick that I had never used before.  One was a new item - a clear soft plastic like plate about 1/8" thick in a 12 x 12 size.  I taped a drawing under it and cut it for a black and white print.  It was weird, really hard to see what was left as I cut it away.  But I kept plugging away and ended up with the plate and print shown in the photos.  I used Flexcut tools and it cut more easily than linoleum.  But I think I still prefer Gomuban (available from imcclains.com).  

COME PRINT WITH US! 
Tomorrow is week 2 of 5 and then we start all over again with another 5 week session.  If anyone is interested sign up is available now for this relief class and solarplate etching too starting the middle of February.  Here's a link to registration.  Just click on Printmaking to see what's available and when.

January Class Offerings

The following classes are being offered at the Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. 3rd Street.  Click here to register.


WHAT A RELIEF!

In this class we will explore mark-making and alternative materials - gomuban, borco board and sintra.  Beginners are welcome!  This low stress, meditative endeavor: drawing, carving, inking and printing will help you recover from all the holiday craziness.  Five week sessions beginning Thursday, January 10th 1-4 pm or 6-9 pm. All materials provided. For adults of all skill levels. 

SOLARPLATE ETCHING

Turn those drawings or photos into artistic masterpieces! In this class, you will learn how to take your drawing or a photo you have taken and turn it into a fine art etching. You will learn the non-toxic etching process and how to put the artist's "hand" into your image. Most materials provided. Paper and additional plates can be purchased from instructor. For adults of all skill levels. 
Five Wednesdays beginning January 9th 1-5pm or six Saturdays January 12th from 9am-12pm.

2 COLOR REDUCTION RELIEF 

Forget linoleum! Discover a new and wonderful relief printmaking surface: Gomuban. In this hands on printmaking class, you will learn to make the complicated simple in producing a 10 print edition of your two colored image through the carving and inking of the buttery Gomuban. For adults of all skill levels. All materials provided. Six Saturdays beginning
January 12th from 1-4pm.

Phoenix Center for the Arts - Teaching Update

 TRY ME! SOLARPLATE ETCHING

It's been awhile since I had students with no art training.  Tonight I had four and their solarplate etchings were all so different and successful that it made me love printmaking all the more.  It was a "Try Me" class at the Phoenix Center for the Arts and offered through Groupon.  They brought in photos, we discusseD the best ones to use, used a copy machine to size and adjust the density, and made transparencies from which the plates were made.  Then they inked, wiped and printed editions of two.  Three hours and done.  I am hoping they got the print bug, even a little.

TRY ME! RELIEF PRINTMAKING

Yesterday I had a makeup session for a "Try Me" relief class and my student chose a challenging image of someone's dearly departed pet poodle.  She had a great attitude and understood that even if it isn't perfect, it  is an artistic interpretation that in the end really looked great.  Another really nice first effort.  Cute, isn't it?

CLASSES START IN JANUARY

I am teaching 5 week sessions of Relief and Solarplate at different times and dates so check out the schedule and see if any fit into your schedule.  Click here to see the offerings.

FIRST FRIDAY DECEMBER 7

The teachers at the Phoenix Center are featured in the Art Gallery this month.  The reception is 7-9 pm Friday night which is also the kickoff  to the Phoenix Festival of the Arts.  Come by to see the art and

stop in the print studio.  I will be printing for fun tomorrow night!