ART G250: Printmaking 3

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	11/18/2025
Top Code	100200 - Art
Units	3 Total Units (Lecture Units 1.5; Lab/Other Units 1.5)
Hours	108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours	54
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S), Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	Area 3 Arts and Humanities (GC)

Course Description

This course is designed for students to investigate and develop personal imagery through the medium of printmaking at an intermediate to advanced level. This studio course will include deeper exploration with intaglio, relief, multicolor printing, mono-serigraph, woodcuts, and plate lithography. Students will construct a personal portfolio of multiple prints using various techniques and approaches. PREREQUISITE: ART G151. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

Use intermediate to advanced printmaking vocabulary.
Create an image combining two or more intermediate to advanced techniques in printmaking.
Compose an artist's statement.
Construct a large format fine art print.

Course Objectives

Create images on a lithography plate, collagraph plate, and woodblock and print those images.
Design and print a multicolor work of art in relief, intaglio, stencil, and lithography at an intermediate to advanced level.
Evaluate student's own work and that of other students during each critique.
Translate ideas and visual experience into images using intermediate to advanced formal and conceptual approaches.
Create a portfolio of work demonstrating formal, conceptual, and material development in a broad range of intermediate to advanced printmaking techniques.
Maintain print lab equipment and supplies.

Lecture Content

Safety and handling
1. Handling of mediums, solvents, and materials
2. Handling of studio equipment
3. Use of the presses
4. How to adjust printing pressure
5. The proper handling of press blankets
6. Creating a template
Terminology and layout of the lab
Historical overview and developments in printmaking
1. Relief - woodcut
2. Intaglio - soft ground, collagraph
3. Planography - plate lithography
4. Stencil - mono-serigraph
Materials, methods, and application of techniques for various printmaking processes
1. Relief - woodcut
2. Intaglio - soft ground, collagraph
3. Planography - plate lithography
4. Stencil - mono-serigraph
Intermediate-advanced techniques in designing and executing woodcuts
1. Developing the image
2. Intermediate-advanced woodcut techniques
3. Printing techniques of woodcut both by hand and by press
Techniques in designing and executing plate lithography
1. Developing image from sketch and separating it into layers
2. Exploring different ways to create marks on a lithography plate
3. How to register and print multiple layers
Intermediate-advanced techniques in designing and executing intaglio prints
1. Soft ground
  1. Preparation of the soft ground plate
  2. Distinction between soft and hard grounds
  3. Etching times
  4. Foul biting
  5. Inking and wiping of the intaglio plate
  6. Applying ink
  7. Wiping the plate
2. Intaglio collagraph
Techniques in designing and executing mono-serigraphs
1. Developing an image from sketch and separating into layers
2. Utilizing paper cut stencil, create the additional layer of mono-serigraph with the use of extender base and watercolor, charcoal, and/or graphite
Paper selection and proper handling for all the printmaking mediums and techniques
Translate ideas into images using both formal and conceptual approaches
Print presentation and critique of work in-progress and finished prints
Printing an edition
1. Related terminology of editioning and signing
2. Role of master printer and print shops
Pricing and marketing prints
1. Matting of prints
2. Southern California printmaking resources
Produce an original print documentation to demonstrate original art to a buyer

Lab Content

Development of drawings and designs for each printing technique
1. Relief - woodcut
2. Intaglio - soft ground, collagraph
3. Planography - plate lithography
4. Stencil - mono-serigraph
Preparation of equipment and materials for each print technique
1. Relief - woodcut
2. Intaglio - soft ground, collagraph
3. Planography - plate lithography
4. Stencil - mono-serigraph
Maintain equipment and supplies
Group and individual critiques on in-progress and finished print works
Create prints using printmaking techniques and processes to include
1. Relief - woodcut
2. Intaglio - soft ground, collagraph
3. Planography - plate lithography
4. Stencil - mono-serigraph
Create a single print edition using at least four colors
Demonstrate studio safety, set-up, and clean-up techniques using non-toxic methods
Demonstrate the proper maintenance methods of all studio equipment and tools

Method(s) of Instruction

Lecture (02)
Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

Reading Assignments

Read and respond to assigned readings with information about the physical properties and conceptual properties of woodcuts, soft ground, collagraph, plate lithograph, and mono-serigraph. Additional instructor provided materials including readings on printmaking.

Writing Assignments

Students will work on creating intermediate to advanced level designs for their prints, implementing their designs, and researching historical and contemporary printmakers and their works. Students may write reflective essays following their virtual or in person visits to museums to view works of printmaking. Students will have written assignments that include the critical evaluations of prints presented in class and written artist's statements.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will work on creating intermediate to advanced level designs for prints, carving and preparing blocks for prints, and investigating historical and contemporary printmakers and their works. Students may visit a gallery or museum in person or online to view works of printmaking. Written exams on knowledge of intermediate level printmaking processes, vocabulary and problem solving. Drafting an artist's statement.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

Methods of Student Evaluation

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Short Quizzes
Written Assignments
Essay Examinations
Objective Examinations
Report
Projects (Individual/Group)
Problem Solving Exercises
Oral Presentations
Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

The student will demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving by applying the elements and principles of design to various printmaking techniques in the creation of fine art prints at the intermediate to advanced level. They will also evaluate their work and the work of their peers and express reasoned judgments during oral critiques.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will demonstrate skills by constructing an intermediate to advanced level print edition in relief, intaglio, stencil, and planography printmaking. They will register a multicolor print in each of the four print techniques covered in the course. Students will work on creating intermediate level designs for their prints, implementing their designs, and researching historical and contemporary printmakers and their works. Students may write reflective essays following their virtual or in person visits to museums to view works of printmaking art. Students will have written assignments that include the critical evaluations of prints presented in class and written artist's statements.

Resources Subscreen

Textbook: Ann d'Arcy Hughes and Hebe Vernon-Morris. The Printmaking Bible: The Complete Guide to Materials and Techniques . Chronicle Books (2023).
Textbook: Paul Coldwell. Printmaking: A Contemporary Perspective. Black Dog Publishing (2010 (Classic)).
Textbook: Beth Grabowski and Bill Fick. A Complete Guide to Material & Processes. Laurence King Publishing (2015 (Classic)).
Textbook: Phil Sanders. Prints and Their Makers. Princeton Architectural Press (2020).

Eligible Discipline(s)

Art: Master’s degree in fine arts, art, or art history OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in humanities OR the equivalent. NOTE: “Master’s in fine arts” as used here refers to any master’s degree in the subject matter of fine arts, which is defined to include visual studio arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and metal and jewelry art; and also, art education and art therapy. It does not refer to the “Master of Fine Arts” (MFA) degree when that degree is based on specialization in performing arts or dance, film, creative writing or other non plastic arts.

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