Overview:
Discover the timeless art of wood engraving, one of the oldest and most intricate printmaking techniques. This hands-on workshop introduces participants to relief printing, where carefully carved woodblocks are inked to produce detailed, stunning images. The process involves using hardwoods like Lemon, Lime, Holly, Pear, or Box—cut against the grain for delicate and precise lines that can be shaped in any direction.
This enriching introductory workshop, will begin with a visit to the Library to explore a variety of wood engravings, drawing inspiration from historical and contemporary works. The course will then dive into practical demonstrations, covering essential cutting techniques like white and black line engraving, creating tone, and discovering the diverse possibilities for printing. Transitioning to application, participants will engrave their own blocks for printing, blending mono-printing, collage, and multi-block printing to tell a visual story.
Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this workshop will guide you through the process of producing quality prints, all while emphasizing the minimal tools and materials required to become an expert printer maker.
Please note, this event does not include a formal site tour and participants will not have access to any other location outside of the provided classroom space and the Library.
Required Pre-Work:
All participants must bring small, prepared drawings to use as a foundation for workshop projects, as they will serve as starting points for your creative process.
Complimentary Items: All materials for this course will be supplied including woodblocks, engraving tools (small chisels less than 2mm in diameter), premium Japanese conservation paper and all printing supplies.
Participants are welcomed to bring a personal supply of fine papers, utility papers, or fabrics for printing if experimenting with different surfaces is desired.
About Oak Spring Garden Foundation: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation’s inaugural President, OSGF provides workshops, short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants, gardens and landscapes.
Photo Release Statement
By attending this event, you consent to your likeness and image being used for ongoing promotional and marketing efforts.
Availability: This event will be capped at 10 participants. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis through Eventbrite until full.
Header Image: Bethany Seeds, 2013 by Mandy Bonnell
About the Instrucotr: Mandy Bonnell, born in London, trained at the Royal College of Art, where she earned an MA in Printmaking in 1983. Her work is regularly exhibited and she is represented by EMH Arts Eagle Gallery in London. Bonnell’s art is held in numerous prestigious international museums and public collections.
In 2014, she was featured in the exhibition Of Green Leaf, Bird, and Flower at the Yale Center for British Art. She has received several prestigious residencies, including at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and the Scuola di Grafica Fellowship in Venice, Italy.
With a rich background in teaching and commitment to collaboration, Mandy brings a unique, cooperative approach to her work. Since 1990, she has spent several months each year in Kenya, where she established an open-access printmaking studio in Nairobi.
