Woodblock Printing

Create relief prints from carved blocks of wood.

Experience the joy of working with a natural material to create nature-inspired artwork. In woodblock printing, an image is carved in reverse on a piece of wood (areas that will not be printed are removed) leaving the image’s outline on the wood. The block is then inked and printed on paper. This six-week art class at The Morton Arboretum will cover the history, tools, inks, paper, plates, blocks, and printing process used in woodblock printing. All supplies included. Under the guidance of the instructor, participants will carve a woodblock and create prints from it. Gain skills and confidence to produce images by hand printing.

Appropriate for experienced artists and beginners alike, this class will provide the chance to work in a new medium, focusing on subject matter found at the Arboretum.

This program meets in person at the Arboretum.

Instructor: Ben Calvert, artist

Age: 16 and older

Course number: A447

Ben Calvert, artist

Ben Calvert has been teaching woodblock relief printmaking since 2017. Calvert was first introduced to the medium by his maternal grandmother, who mentored him, and then studied it through an independent study course at Knox College in 1989. His passion for creating with natural woodblocks that reflect nature and his personal experiences has been rewarded with solo art exhibits as well as attracting the attention of collectors on four continents. He has enjoyed sharing knowledge, first as a docent at the Naper Settlement in high school to currently being a docent at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, as well as through demonstrations at local art leagues and teaching at The Morton Arboretum.

Questions about Registration
630-719-2468
Registrar-ed@mortonarb.org
Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Format
In person
Six Wednesdays, November 1 through December 13, 2023, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. No class November 22.
Classroom E, Thornhill Education Center
A447
$153 member
$180 guest
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