Group Printmaking

We are happy to provide private printmaking activities for groups of up to 12 people. These include:

• Private Parties and Events
• Private Workshops
• Teacher Development Days
• Company Off-Sites
• School or Camp Field Trips

Rates

Activity costs vary according to the size of your group and whether you want a full-day activity or a half-day activity. All materials are included in the costs.

Small Group (4-7 people)

• half day or evening (3 hours) – $120/person
• full day (6 hours + break for lunch) – $180/person

Large Group (8-12 people)

• half day or evening (3 hours) – $90/person
• full day (6 hours + break for lunch) – $135/person

Optional: Add a take-home CCP apron for $20/person. (Communal studio aprons are available for use at no cost.)

School Groups: Classrooms often have specific time constraints and larger group sizes. We will provide custom quotes in these situations. Please contact us for details.

Types of Printmaking

We tailor each Printmaking Activity to the group’s needs, but here are a few that we regularly offer:

• Monotype – This type of printmaking feels a lot like painting, and is often a good choice for groups who want a casual, expressive art form. Ink is applied to a plexiglass plate in various ways. The plate is then run through the press to transfer the ink to art paper. The resulting print is a one-of-a-kind original artwork, hence the use of “mono” in the name. We made this ► 3-minute video to give you a better idea.
• Linocut – Participants use specialty gouges and carving tools to cut designs into pliable linoleum sheets. It’s like a more advanced version of a stamp. The carved sheet is rolled with ink and run through the press. You can get multiple prints that all look alike. Many participants use this process to bring home a stack of their own custom note cards.
• Drypoint Etching on Plexiglass – For those seeking a classic printmaking activity that closely resembles historical methods, drypoint is the way to go! Though we use modern materials–plexiglass instead of copper–the process is the same. Participants scratch line drawings into the plexi using specialty etching needles. We will then help you ink the plexi with black ink and run it through the press to create your own old-world style etching.
• TetraPak – Similar to Drypoint Etching except we use recycled food cartons instead of plexiglass. TetraPak printing also lets you use colorful soy-based inks, apply layers of lape and stickers, and even cut your “plates” into fun shapes. Great for all ages!
• Gelli Plate – This type of playful printmaking is especially great for younger groups, but adults enjoy it, too! Soy-based ink is applied to a reusable gelatin rectangle (similar to window gel clings), and then patterns are applied with stencils, leaves, stamps, hand-drawing, etc. Paper is rubbed onto the gelli-plate by hand–no printing press needed. Lots of layering and creativity is possible, and no two prints are alike!
• Cyanotype – Also known as sun prints, this type of printmaking does not involve any ink or presses. Participants are provided with specially coated papers that will turn blue when exposed to UV light. The artwork is created by arranging objects onto the paper which will block the light and keep those areas white. The resulting blue and white prints are beautiful and easy to love.

Not sure what to choose? Our Education Coordinator can help you decide which activity best suits your group, and answer any other questions you might have. Email Toni Miraldi at tmiraldi@contemprints.org to get started.

Studio Details

Hours – Regular studio hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sundays 12pm to 5pm. Evening hours are available on request. Since our studios are also used by member artists and public workshops, group availability is often limited. Please plan on booking your event several weeks in advance for the best choice of days and times.

Food – For safety reasons, food is not allowed in the studios. Beverages in closed-lid containers are allowed. BYO food and beverages can be arranged, but will be set up in a separate room, outside the studios.

Accessibility – Our studios are housed within a 19th century historic building. Many of our spaces are small and not ADA compliant. Our largest group studio is up a flight of stairs with no elevator. While we would like to accommodate everyone, we are limited by the constraints of our space. For this reason, the maximum capacity of our upstairs studio is 12 participants, and the capacity of our ground-floor studio is 6 participants.

We can bring Printmaking to you – We have a small traveling press and can provide most our activities at your location for an additional trip fee, which is usually $75 for locations within an hour’s drive of Norwalk, CT.

Group visits without a Printmaking Activity – If your group simply wants to tour our studios and galleries without a hands-on activity, we can discuss alternative options with you.

Scheduling Your Activity

Begin by emailing our Education Coordinator Toni Miraldi at tmiraldi@contemprints.org. Please be as specific as possible about the size and interests of your group. We look forward to booking a unique printmaking experience for you!