Relief Printmaking, 4/11 - 5/30, 10:30am

Service Description

6-session course over 8 weeks: Saturdays, April 11 - May 30, 10:30am - 12:30pm (No classes held on April 25 or May 23) Ages 18+ This “Creative Aging” course is designed to promote wellbeing through the arts, especially for older folks who might face issues like isolation, depression, or anxiety. However, registration for this offering is open to all adults (age 18+) who might benefit. Join a friendly, creative community in this 6-session relief printmaking course, open to all experience levels--from first-time makers to seasoned artists. This course guides you through designing and carving relief blocks and printing a small series of cards or frameable images. You'll learn each step of the printmaking workflow: design creation or choice, design transfer, carving, inking, and printing, and you will leave with the skills to continue the artform independently. It's really fun to see how your own (and others') art evolves through the 6 sessions in this course, and you might just make new friends! The skills you'll learn in this 6-session series will build on themselves as we become a tight-knit community of artists! Finished prints may also be displayed at Catalyst Arts Collaborative or within your living community. All supplies will be provided by your instructor or by Catalyst. Optional to bring: - Designs or photos to help create what you will carve - Layered clothing, as the temperatures may fluctuate in our building - Water (with lid) and snacks Prerequisites & disclaimers: - Because this class involves detailed carving, sustained hand use, following multi-step processes, and working with sharp tools, it is best suited for individuals who are comfortable with fine-motor tasks and extended focus. - Unlike a woodblock printmaking course, we will be using softer carving blocks that are gentler on hands and wrists. About your instructor: Gretchen Weitemier is a Boise native who holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Whitman College and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University. Her work and teaching are guided by the neuroscience of creative “flow” and mindful art-making. Gretchen has taught Relief (Woodblock) Printmaking at Catalyst Arts Collaborative since 2022 and is an active member of the Treasure Valley Artists Alliance, exhibiting work locally and across the U.S.