Venue: The Learning Connexion, 182 Eastern Hutt Road, Taita

Dates: 1/2/3 June 2024 (King’s Birthday weekend)

Time: 10am - 4pm

BYO lunch. Tea, coffee provided.

This workshop is now FULL and no longer taking registrations.

DRYPOINT & ACRYLIC RESIST ETCHING       COST: $340 (Materials cost extra)

A 3 - day workshop exploring drypoint and etching aluminium using copper sulphate/salt mordant, acrylic resists and printing with Akua water-based intaglio inks. There will be a materials cost to students - to be confirmed nearer the time.

This is a guideline for the workshop rather than a rigid structure. I prefer to allow things to evolve within a framework according to participant’s particular interests, imagery and enthusiasms.

It may be that one technique suits a particular person’s work whereas another may not. The aim is for everyone to go away with a deeper knowledge of the processes, finished prints and plates that can be editioned and/or developed at a later stage.

No acids or solvents are used in these processes, no toxic fumes are generated.

The workshop will cover:

Saturday June 1st - Day 1 AM

Techniques and stages will be demonstrated and explained, participants will then work through the processes.

Intro into ‘non-toxic’ printmaking techniques. Safer approaches to etching – why use acrylic resists and salt etch mordants?

Examples of different mark making we will explore.

Drypoint – a direct, non-chemical process. Drypoint is working with tools directly into a metal plate to create a printable burr.

Introduction to drypoint

  • Differences between drypoint and etched lines

  • Plate preparation

  • Tools and techniques

  • Adding tone/shading – roulette wheels

  • Inking & Printing

Day 1 PM

Introduction to Acrylic Resist Etching – Line Etching

Etching – A chemical process – aluminium is etched with a copper sulphate/salt solution

  • Plate preparation

  • Flow coating with acrylic co-polymer emulsion

  • Drawing the image

  • Backing plates

  • Etching

  • Stripping resists

  • Printing


Sunday June 2nd - Day 2

Introduction to lift resist

Lift resists made using Kremelta allow for gestural painterly direct mark making – finished prints will be 2 plates registered for one image

  • Plate preparation

  • Drawing/painting with Kremelta

  • Applying resists

  • Lifting the resist

  • Etching

  • Stripping the resist

  • Inking – registration and printing

4pm - Mark Graver - Artist talk/Q&A

Day 3

Concentrating on printing - Extend techniques from days 1 & 2 with possibility to explore:

  • Combining etching line, lift and drypoint

  • Alternative colour options – e.g. background rolled, chine-collé, monotype techniques etc.

  • Different plate combinations

  • Demonstrate experimental techniques – wash resists/ alternative resists (glue sticks, lip balm, packing tape, lipstick etc.)


Any queries about the workshop, email Mark Graver at studio@nontoxic-printmaking.co.nz

Payment or booking queries to info@printcouncil.nz or treasurer@printcouncil.nz

Booking form:

This workshop is now FULL and no longer taking registrations.

To register for Mark’s 3-day workshop, fill in the form here. Payment details are in the form or here - PCANZ bank account 03 0791 0387378 00, reference your name and WW2024.

Downloadable Workshop Brief:

Download the workshop information via the button below