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Polymer Photogravure Workshops

                                                                           
Group workshop dates are listed on the home page. There are currently none scheduled to take place here at the press, due to Covid-19.  Once social distancing guidelines ease up, if  a small group (up to 6 people) is interested, I can make a date for you  — it's a great way to spend a long weekend with photo-friends! — either here, or at your location if you have an intaglio press and a UV light unit.

I am currently teaching both the two exposure process of polymer photogravure which uses an aquatint screen and vacuum table, and the direct to plate (DTP) method which prints the image to be exposed directly onto the polymer plate with an Epson printer.

 The workshops have been designed with both the beginner and the more experienced printer in mind. The three days  will be about hands-on plate making and inking, and printing with the presses. You will get a good feel for what it's like to work with paper and ink on an intaglio press. You'll be  inking and wiping plates for different effects  to explore what sort of images this process is capable of producing. You will also  learn how to  prepare the image for printing your transparencies,  and how to calculate exposure times for your aquatint screen and transparency to create the final polymer plate. And with the direct to plate method, you will learn the ins and outs of using an Epson printer to ready your plate for exposure.

 
You can expect:

An overview of the process with examples.
There are two presses and a large exposure unit, so lots can be happening at once.

At some point each day we'll stop for lunch (provided for you), enjoy conversation, photo books (there is a good sized library here) and a little rest. We are surrounded by farmland, so a pleasant walk is easy to come by.

Basic equipment and supplies/suppliers will be discussed as we go, and of course your questions answered throughout the day.     

We’ll cover the basics of using an intaglio press, inking and hand-wiping your plates, and making a good print. We'll also make a few bad prints, so you'll know what various mistakes look like when you get home and start printing on your own. There are many variables in this process,  so a little forewarning is good.
 
All the materials you need to make  as many as  6 images up to 8x10, depending upon your camera format, are included in the cost of the workshop.  Additional supplies will be available on site for purchase, if you wish to try something adventurous, or take some home with you.
 
 
You should bring:

 Your passport if  you would like to cross the Canadian border, approximately five miles away.
 
Warm clothes for layering – it can be  chilly here, but warm once the sun is out!

A laptop computer with a photo editing program and basic photo editing skills if possible.  A thumb drive with the images you'd like to work on is a good idea, too. Prior to the workshop you will receive information about the necessary software
 
Accommodations in Presque Isle are about  15 miles from the Press, with a variety of places to choose from. There is an airport (PQI) in Presque Isle, which is a 20 minute drive from the studio, or you can fly into Bangor Intl. Airport (BGR) and finish the trip with 2.5 hours driving through the North woods of Maine.

From here, it’s less than a day’s drive to The Gaspé Penninsula, the Bay of Fundy, and Nova Scotia – your workshop can be a great beginning or ending point for a larger family vacation or photographic adventure!
 
 

 
Private workshops for 1 or 2 people are available — and very fun!  These are currently $350 per day plus materials with a 3 day minimum. For those, I ask a 50% deposit as soon as a date is settled. If you'd like to save some money on your accommodations, bring a friend to split your motel room with.

Experienced printers who want have  projects to print and would like a relaxed atelier  setting and an experienced eye to help them are welcome as well. Contact me for more about that. I really love working with people to make their vision reality.