Reduction/Relief Classes for Winter Quarter

Discover the Art of Reduction Printmaking: Where Creative Flow Meets Community

This class is perfect for students who want to learn this artform in a structured and sequential manner, beginning with creating basic relief prints and ending with a more complex reduction print series. Intermediate students will appreciate growing their skills as they create reduction prints with more detail, layering and color pathways.

Unlock a deeply satisfying, hands-on art form that engages your mind, sparks your creativity, and connects you with a vibrant community. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced print artist, this class offers a supportive environment to learn the tactile, rewarding process of linocut printmaking. From your very first print you will start developing your printmaking style, experience the stress-melting power of creative flow, and build lasting connections with fellow creators.

You will learn 2 forms of printmaking – Relief and Reduction

A relief print is created by carving an image into linoleum, inking the surface, and pulling the print by running a piece of paper on top of your inked plate through our hand-crank Takach press. A relief edition of 6-8 prints is typically completed in 2-3 class periods. 

A reduction print is a multilayered, multi-color print that is created by carving away (reducing) the linoleum and by inking the linoleum in alternate steps. Printing one color per week is the usual time frame, and the typical beginner reduction print has 3-5 layers when completed. 

Why You’ll Love This 8-Week Class:

•        Instant Personalization: Create unique, expressive prints right from the start. Whether your style is clean and graphic, painterly, abstract, or realistic, you will quickly learn to translate your vision onto the plate.

•        A Rewarding Process: You will learn how to transfer your photo or drawing onto linoleum, how to tear and register paper, how to mix ink to make unique colors and how to carve, ink and print an edition. Most new printers create 1 Relief edition and 1 Reduction edition during their 8-week class.

•        The Power of "Flow": Experience the rare, simultaneous feeling of high mental stimulation and profound relaxation. Students love getting "in the zone" while carving, inking, and watching their images resolve layer by layer.

•        A Richly Tactile Experience: You will feel the texture of the block change under your carving tools and master the sensory skill of ink mixing and rolling - even learning to listen for the perfect sound of the ink on the roller. 

•        Fast, Confidence-Boosting Results: You will design and print your first edition within the first few weeks. The tangible sense of accomplishment you feel early on will give you the confidence to tackle more complex projects as the quarter progresses.

•        Inspiring Mini-Lessons: We kick off the first 20 minutes of each session with a bite-sized deep dive into modern print artists, advanced techniques, color theory, or composition to fuel your inspiration for the day. You’ll also learn key printmaking terminology and the correct way to sign and number your editions for display.

•        A Vibrant, Welcoming Community: Printmaking is a collaborative, social journey. Our studio vibe is warm, energetic, and deeply respectful of every artist’s path. You'll share ideas, learn from your peers, and build meaningful bonds. 

•        Open Studio Time – Print at Your Own Pace: Each week offers plenty of open studio time to create, print and explore this artform at your own speed.