Workshops

 
Join Matt Brown and co-leaders Todd Binzen, Matthew Daniell , and Maureen Burford for a camp-style workshop at a beautiful location in western MA, the 100 year-old Rowe Center below Adams Mtn. near the VT border. Structured around the project of finishing a batch of woodblock prints as a team, the weekend explores spiritual implications of making art as part of a team. We'll investigate relationships of color and form, mind and body, Taoism and Buddhism, craft and art. 

To find out costs, schedule, and other details.

Before I read the info page link above, can you describe a bit more?
During this retreat we'll do carving and printing and learn of the basics of the Japanese technique. The Japanese hanga method, which is printing by hand with wood and water, was the printing method used to make the ukiyo-e and shin hanga prints of Japan. It was printmaking done collaboratively by a team. Our focus will be on the communicative potential of making art as a group. To help that to work, we'll pursue activities during the weekend to build meaning around our group project. We also keep in mind our goal: the completion of a batch of prints suitable for framing that participants can take home.

The other activities?
Friday night talk by Matthew Daniell, perhaps on the Buddhist concept of the non-self 
Saturday morning Qigong movement class led by Todd Binzen
Saturday evening Music-making time with Maureen Burford
Sunday morning fellowship, perhaps a nature/history walk, and organizing, signing, and blessing the prints, followed by a farewell lunch.

Explain that printmaking part, the activity for Saturday, one more time?
Todd and I will bring to the class blocks and papers already carved and partially printed. We'll also have blank blocks, and papers will be unfinished with printing work left to do. Plenty of papers and colors, lots to play with. The art part of the weekend will be bringing these prints to completion.   

Main idea of this workshop?
To teach is to learn, and this class is shaped by my interest to explore a different way to teach color woodblock printmaking using the Japanese method (hanga). The ukiyo-e and shin hanga prints of Japan were made by a team, and this workshop explores the team-making aspect of printmaking. Color woodblock printmaking is about bringing together the parts (the various blocks and colors, the steps of the printing process), and this workshop time is an exploration of bringing together and integrating parts (our minds, our bodies, our art).

view looking up King's Highway to the entrance of the Rowe Center:

 

Classes the Way I used to Teach Them?

Feel free to email with inquiries about color woodblock printmaking workshops further in the future.
The above offering is the only teaching I have planned for 2025.


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Class description of workshops I have taught in the past.

Introduction to Japanese Color Woodblock Printmaking
The Japanese developed a woodblock printing method using water as a medium, brushes to apply colors to the blocks, and use of a hand-held baren instead of a press to transfer colors from multiple carved blocks to printing papers. This is a low carbon-footprint, non-toxic printing method.

Workshops are organized to offer a comprehensive introduction to the tools, techniques, and materials    of this printing method. In each class everyone completes a multi-color print and engages with aspects of design, carving, and printing. The workshop includes sharings of tricks and techniques adaptable  to other art-making approaches (watercolor painting, western-style printmaking). All experience levels are welcome.  

Each 3-day workshop is taught in six three-hour sessions.  To find out more, and to see prints made by past class participants, visit the Studio, or send me a note.

On the work by students page you can see prints and photos from past workshops and see images of prints made in classes. Below are links to web-sites of some who have gone on to make hanga prints of their own after taking the class. 

Annie Bissett
Mary Graham
Richard Sabin
Sandy Wadlington
Jennifer Worsley

Matt