The course will explore the history of intaglio printing techniques, such as engraving, etching, aquatints, drypoint and mezzoprints. This will include looking at not only the actual techniques used in different cultures, but also exploring the work of selected artists. We will explore prints by artists such as the engravings of William Hogarth; etching by Picasso and Goya; aquatints by Goya and Norman Ackroyd; drypoints by Rembrandt and mezzoprints by Escher and Sarah Gillespie. This course is a fully online with no physical meeting space, accessing the course through Canvas our virtual learning environment and zoom a video conferencing software.
Course aim
This course will explore the history of the various techniques of intaglio printing. It will illustrate the methods used in different cultures, looking at examples of the prints produced by artists using these techniques.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- No skills or experience needed
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Understand how artists across cultures and throughout history have used different forms of intaglio printmaking.
- identify the characteristics of the particular printing techniques used when looking at examples of artists' work.
- Appreciate the reasons why particular printmaking techniques were chosen by artists.
- Summarise the method used in each of the techniques of intaglio printmaking.
- experiment with some of the printmaking techniques explored.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
- You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will be able to keep a digital portfolio of your work on WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas.
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful
- A handout containing a selection of images from the PowerPoint slideshow will be available to download before each session.
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet
History of Printmaking: Intaglio Printing - With Paul Cartwright







