Art class Amsterdam - printing techniques

Since a few weeks, I am taking a wonderful Printing Techniques class at the Teekenschool (Art School) of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It’s so much fun every Wednesday evening, trying out all sorts of techniques and learning from my class mates. Drawing, pasting, linocutting, engraving… And then covering with paint or ink with a roller and start printing away. The results feel like a gift, every single time. Your own drawing can look completely different when mirrored!

Engraving a little godwit

This week, we engraved a small metal printing plate. With a burin we carved our drawing into the surface. Pretty difficult and hard work! The electrical burin workes much faster, but makes a lot of noise. With gigantic plastic protection goggles and headphones I carved away. I just love losing myself in the creative process. Below you can see the result of my little godwit chick in a meadow filled with Pentecostal flowers. A true Dutch picture perfect. As you can see it’s a lot of fun to play around with the amounts of ink that you leave on the printing plate and the movement with which you remove the ink (with cheese cloth). Next week we will try woodcarving. Can’t wait!

Art classes Rijksmuseum

For more fun art classes at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, take a look at the website of the Rijksmuseum.

Art class Rijksmuseum - Art by Anne-Lieke

Art class Rijksmuseum - Various bird prints by Anne-Lieke