Printmaking

Featherstone's cozy Printmaking Studio has a variety of presses and other equipment necessary to work with linoleum block printing, etchings, monotypes, and mixed media processes. Screen printing, paper and fabric dying and paper making also take place in this studio.

Pre-registration is required for classes & workshops - please register online below or call 508-693-1850.
Minimum age requirement for all adult classes is 14 years old.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY:
Please read all class descriptions and be aware of age, skill level and materials requirements in ADVANCE of registering for any classes and workshops. Featherstone does not issue refunds unless we cancel the class due to low enrollment.

Previous 2025

Blockprint Holiday Cards with Allison Doherty
Date: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $65, includes materials

Come learn the art of relief block printing and create your own set of holiday (or any theme you choose) cards! Relief block printing is a printmaking technique where a design is drawn on a smooth block of material, and cutting tools are used to remove the areas not to be printed. A raised surface of lines and shapes is left behind. Once the design is cut into the block, the remaining surface is inked using a roller, ensuring that the ink is only on the uppermost surface of the design. These inked designs on block (in our case Soft-Kut printing blocks), re pressed against paper to print the design.

Exploring Printmaking with Allison Doherty
Days: Wednesdays (plus Thursday, August 7)
Dates: July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 / August 6, 13, 20, 27 / September 3, (no 10), 17, 24 / October 1, 15, 29 / November 12
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $65 per class, includes materials (larger paper additional)

These one day studio classes will introduce new practices to those who want to try something new, or can be taken to reinvigorate a previously learned skill that may have gotten rusty over time. Explore techniques such as linoleum block printing; dry-point etching; monotype; and mixed-media processes. Bring ideas, sketchbooks, drawings, etc. to class and the instructor will tailor a technique to fit. The studio offers several press beds for both the experienced and the inexperienced printmaker.
MONOTYPE: A unique print is a one-of-a-kind transfer of an inked or painted image from a Plexiglas plate to paper pressure or by means of a press. Sometimes there is enough ink or paint residue left on the plate surface to pull a second, much lighter print. This is called a “ghost”. Each transfer is unique and cannot be exactly duplicated.
RELIEF BLOCK PRINTING: The transfer of drawings and compositions that are cut into soft linoleum using carving tools and run a proof.
DRY-POINT ETCHING: "Drawing" into Plexiglas sheets with a metal scribe, ink the sheets and print the results. This technique can be combined with other printmakingpossibilities, such as chine collé or with drawing to create a multi-layered final piece.

Shibori Dyeing with Indigo Workshop with Rory Valentine
Dates: Tuesday, August 12 // Saturday, September 27
Dates: 1:00PM - 5:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $100 for 4 hour workshop, includes materials

Shibori is the Japanese word for a method of dyeing that uses binding, stitching, folding, twisting, and compression to make marks on cloth. We will explore this technique using indigo a centuries-old traditional blue dye. Students will make a beautiful and unique set of four linen napkins to keep or gift.

Visiting Artist Workshop: Eco Printing with Plants with Katama Murray
Date: Saturday, August 16
Time: 10:00AM - 1:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $80, includes all materials

Hidden color exists all around us, waiting to be transformed into works of art. Have you ever wondered how to utilize local plant species and food compost in a sustainable, creative way? Eco printing is the process of bundling and steaming both plants and food waste onto either fabric or paper, allowing the natural pigments to transfer to the prepared substrate. All of the colors, shapes, and textures that bond with the fiber come from the materials themselves. Eco printing offers unique variations and a world of possibilities that allow for full exploration, while mindfully collaborating with the natural world! Participants will print onto a set of mordanted fabric samples, including a cotton bandana, tote bag, and linen cloth. Create beautiful, one of a kind pieces that can be admired forever, while taking time to slow down and appreciate the richness and diversity of color dwelling alongside us.

Learn more about Katama here.

sold out

Cyanotype: Sun Printed Fabric Workshop with Rory Valentine
Date: Tuesday, August 5
Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Cyanotype is an antique photographic printing process well known for its deep blue color and where the term “blueprint” originated. In this class we will use found objects to block sunlight from the photosensitive fabric to create beautiful surface designs. I will have items on hand to work with however feel free to bring your favorite beach combed treasures or other objects of interest to experiment with. You will take home several cyanotype fabric image samples that can be made into bags, placemats, pillows, napkins, mending patches, quilt squares and more.

Marbling on Fabric Workshop with Rory Valentine
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Marbling is a technique of surface design where colorful paints are floated and decoratively swirled on a gel medium then transferred to cotton fabric (or paper) creating a beautiful and complex pattern. In this class, you will learn and practice this technique and take home 4 unique marbleized cotton cloth napkins.

Block Printing Collage Workshop with Ellika Edelman
Date: Wednesday, June 25
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Experiment with mixed media techniques in the printmaking studio while creating a unique collage using colorful layers with water soluble crayons and pencils and stamping on paper. No prior drawing or painting skills needed! Students will experiment with watercolor pencils and relief block printing, carving rubber stamps to make a unique collage print.

Mixed Media Printmaking Workshop with Ellika Edelman
Dates: Wednesday, May 21
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Come explore the possibilities using our printmaking press to create a unique collage using colorful layers with water soluble crayons and pencils on paper. No prior drawing or painting skills needed! Students will experiment with watercolor pencils and rubber stamps to make a unique collage

Linocut Flower Workshop with Ellika Edelman
Dates: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Learn the art of linocut printmaking during this 3 hour workshop celebrating our annual exhibit The Art of Flowers! You will be introduced to the fundamentals of linocut printing, from carving your own design onto linoleum blocks, using water based ink to create a custom print. These blocks can be used again in the future to create an edition of small prints on paper.

Caran d’Ache Monotype Printing with Ellika Edelman
Dates: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

In this 3-hour course, we will explore Caran D’ache. This is a method of making one print using water-soluble crayons on a sheet of mylar. Drawing with the water-soluble crayons, students will create a one-of-a-kind image to print. When printing the drawing will transfer onto a sheet of paper leaving students with a finished print.

Intro to Block Printing with Ellika Edelman
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: Wednesday, March 5
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 for 3 hour workshop, includes materials

Students will learn how to create a block print by carving into thick rubber to create an image or one or more patterns and print a full composition. The composition could contain more than one print or repeating patterns from the same series of blocks. We will print using water-based ink. Students will leave with at least one finished print.

ART NIGHT! Printmaking: Valentines with Ellika Edelman
Date: Wednesday, February 5
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $50 for 2 hour workshop, includes materials

Get ready for Valentine's Day by creating your own set of special edition cards in the Printmaking Studio! Students will learn the basics of relief block printing by carving small designs into soft-cut printing blocks and transferring to cards. After designing your blocks, you will be able to 'print' a set of up to 5 custom Valentines with envelopes. Wine, tea and light snacks provided.

Previous 2024

Block Printing on Fabric with Anna Brody
Days: Fridays
Dates: June 14 // July 12 // August 9
Time: 2:00PM - 5:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $70 per 3 hour workshop (bring fabrics to work on, tote bags may be purchased in the studio)

In this 3-hour course for printing on fabrics, we will carve stamps out of linoleum blocks to create images and patterns for fabrics. Please bring fabrics to print on such as: tea towels, shirts, a denim jacket, tote bags, pillowcases, linen tablecloths, cotton sheets, or whatever flat-weave fabric you want! Any linoleum block stamps you create are yours to take home and continue printing with.

Visiting Artist Workshop: Dyeing & Painting with Natural Inks with Katama Murray
Dates: Tuesday March 19
Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $75, includes all materials

In this hands-on workshop, learn the process of creating handmade dye and ink using plant pigments from natural dye baths! Students will learn the basics of natural dyeing with shibori resist methods to dye a cotton bandana, as well as methods for extracting pigments to create a palette of liquid inks. These inks will be employed to experiment with mark making, pattern, and visual color stories on paper and fiber to connect with local flora throughout the season.

Learn more about Katama here.

Visiting Artist Workshop: Experimental Monotypes with Katama Murray
Dates: Wednesday, March 6th
Time: 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $75 for 3 hour workshop, includes all materials

Learn the basics of creating monotype prints using a variety of materials! In this experimental workshop, participants will understand the process of using water-based inks to create one of a kind monoprints on paper through a press. Utilizing a plexiglass plate as the image matrix, elements of print and painting are combined to produce unique pieces. Unlike most printmaking processes which employ replication of a repeated image, monotypes encourage loose, imaginative making! Using a combination of added materials and expressive mark-making, students will create a series of monoprints and ‘ghost’ prints on paper which explore the creative potential within this print process.

Learn more about Katama here.

Visiting Artist Workshop: Intro to Cyanotype Printing with Katama Murray
Dates: Wednesday, January 24th
Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $75 for 3 hour workshop, includes all materials

Experiment with natural patterns through cyanotypes! This class will focus on various cyanotype printing techniques on fabric and paper to create prints on both paper and fabric. Dive into the realm of this photographic printmaking process in this hands-on class as a way to connect to the season and objects around us. Participants will learn the basics of cyanotype printing on different coated materials, and be encouraged to utilize an array of collected and foraged objects.

Learn more about Katama here.