Printmaking in Studio Arts
The undergraduate and graduate programs in printmaking emphasize both theory and practice in the production, history and teaching of the visual arts through the medium of prints.
Participation in internship or apprenticeship experience is expected and the exhibition and demonstration of the students' competency and intellectual maturity are requirements for graduation.
Students will be expected to demonstrate artistic proficiency in printmaking, as they are encouraged to explore conceptual directions in other media. The printmaking faculty is committed to individual artistic development and we direct our teaching methodology toward nurturing artists who learn to explore personal experiences, studies and directions in their work. The faculty believes in providing facilities, and environment, and experiences that will encourage the students' artistic development.
Visiting artists with diverse artistic backgrounds interact with the students through individual and group critiques lectures, demonstrations, publishing, and research print projects. These activities happen in the student shop and through Normal Editions Workshop, a nonprofit printmaking workshop and research facility founded in Illinois State University in September 1976.
Normal Editions Workshop Press is adjacent to the student print shops and it augments the educational goals of the university and:
- provides students an opportunity to work with and observe visiting artists within a professional workshop situation;
- provides works of art for study collections and traveling exhibitions;
- provides custom printing services for artists throughout the United States (Kiki Smith, David Wojnarowichz, Julia Fish, Peter Plagens, Sidney Goodman, Keith Jacobshagen, Donald Lipski, Dennis Oppenheim and many others).
Intaglio
The intaglio studio is approximately 4,000 square feet in size. There is a large Brand etching press, a small Brand etching press and an American French tool press. There are complete etching, aquatint and color printing stations organized within the shop. Substantial space, facilities and equipment are provided for experimental work as well as traditional approaches.
Lithography
The lithography studio is approximately 4,000 square feet in size. There is a large Brand press and two large Takach presses for proofing and editioning, and a wide variety of lithographic stones is available. Experimental and traditional techniques are taught and work in color, metal plate lithography, photolithography and monotype.
There is a darkroom equipped with an enlarger and a full-sized vacuum frame, flip-top arc available for etching and lithography.
A complete letterpress facility is also included within the printmaking area. An electric Vandercook proofing press capable of printing approximately 18" x 24" and type, in a variety of styles and sizes are available.
Graduate students are provided separate areas for proofing and printing. There is also a Graduate Studio Building located off campus that provides our students with individual studio spaces, an opportunity to work in a variety of media and to discuss and critique works with faculty and students in an interdisciplinary dialogue.
With Illinois State University's close proximity to Chicago and St. Louis, occasional field trips are taken to view museum shows, gallery exhibitions, visit special print shops and view prints from special collections such as the print study room at the Chicago Art Institute.
The Undergraduate curriculum consists of:
- 245 Beginning Intaglio
- 246 Beginning Lithography
- 345 Advanced Intaglio
- 346 Advanced Lithography
300 level courses may be repeated many times. There are also independent and special problems courses.
The problems dealt with in these courses range from very traditional techniques in the first few courses to a wide range of personal and contemporary exploration in the advanced courses. A wide variety of mediums are utilized in all of the courses. A student can major in printmaking at ISU and work with three different instructors who teach in this area.
There are also computers available to generate images in Photoshop and Illustrator for output onto graphic film.
Faculty
