Printmaking at Montevallo offers an introduction to the discipline for all students and is one of our areas of concentration for art majors with a special interest and ability in printmaking.
The introductory class explores monotypes, woodcuts, and etching while encouraging development of art ideas based on foundations experience in drawing and design.
Advanced Courses
The advanced classes are offered in a regular rotation and may be taken in any order: Intaglio, which explores copperplate etching; Relief, for large-format carving-based prints using our 44 by 84 inch Takach press; Lithography, which focuses on hand-drawn aluminum plates; and Screen Printing, which uses photo-emulsions for hand, photographic and computer generated work printed on paper and fabric.
The final class for the printmaking concentration is Portfolio, where students develop a related body of work. The program encourages personal growth as an artist while gaining technical control of the various print media.
Curriculum
Students who concentrate in printmaking are encouraged to take classes in advanced drawing, photography, and digital printing to develop innovative approaches in printmaking. Digital, photo-mechanical, and large-format techniques are available for all the print processes.
Students completing the concentration may pursue graduate-level work in studio and art education to work as artists, master printers, and teachers or enter commercial printing fields.
Printmaking Facilities
Printmaking is housed in Bloch Hall and consist of three dedicated classroom studios with associated support spaces including a darkroom for photo-mechanical processing, screen drying room, acid etching room, and faculty office. Professional specialized equipment includes two standard etching presses, two lithographic presses, a Vandercook relief proofing press, and a large 44×84-inch Takach etching press suitable for intaglio, relief, and plate lithographic printing. The program is supported with accessory equipment necessary for professional quality print production including a Nu-Arc platemaker, hot plate, plate shear, registration hole-punch, lithographic stones, graining sink, rollers, platebackers, screen printing tables and washout sink, metal-halide screen exposing unit, flat files and lockers. Printmaking students have ready access to the computer labs for Graphic Design, New Media, and Photography, which include iMacs, scanners, and printers, as well as digital fabrication facilities, including a 4×8-foot CNC Router housed in Sculpture and 3D Printers, housed in the main library Digital Media Lab.
