ACCESSIBILITY
San Diego Printmaking Society believes everyone should have access to arts education and the opportunity to develop a creative practice.
As part of our commitment to keeping printmaking accessible, please reach out to us if the cost of a class or materials is a barrier to participation. Thanks to donations and community support, SDPS is able to offer scholarships, reduced-cost opportunities, and other pathways for artists and community members who may not otherwise be able to participate.
We want our studio to be accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. If you are interested in a class but are concerned about the cost, please contact us before assuming the class is out of reach.
MEMBER DISCOUNTS
SDPS members receive discounts on course tuition.
Community Members: $25 off course tuition
Supporting Members: $50 off course tuition
Membership discounts apply to tuition and do not apply to instructor materials fees unless otherwise specified.
TIEMPO LIBRE FOR ENROLLED STUDENTS
Because SDPS courses meet only once per week, enrolled students are encouraged to use Tiempo Libre to continue developing and advancing their class projects outside of scheduled instruction.
Enrolled students have access to Tiempo Libre during designated studio hours Friday through Sunday, allowing students additional time to:
Continue projects introduced during class
Practice techniques covered during instruction
Develop images and matrices
Print additional proofs
Troubleshoot and refine work
Prepare for upcoming class sessions
Advance projects between weekly meetings
Supplement their classroom instruction with independent studio practice
Tiempo Libre is a non-instructional open studio program. Students must follow SDPS studio safety requirements and may only use equipment and processes they have been trained and authorized to operate.
Introduction to printmaking
Introduction to Printmaking is an eight-week survey course designed to introduce students to several foundational printmaking processes.
Students will work through relief printing, drypoint etching, monotype, and serigraphy while learning how images are developed, transferred, prepared, inked, registered, and printed.
The course provides meaningful hands-on experience across multiple processes while encouraging experimentation and individual artistic development. Rather than focusing on a single technique, students gain a broad understanding of printmaking and begin identifying the processes that best support their own creative practice.
No previous printmaking experience is required.
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Relief Printmaking
Students begin with linoleum relief printing and learn image development, positive and negative space, safe carving, ink preparation, registration, and edition printing.
Drypoint Etching
Students create direct intaglio drawings on PETG plates while learning plate preparation, mark-making, burr, inking, tarlatan wiping, paper preparation, press operation, registration, and printing.
Monotype
Students explore monotype as a painterly and experimental process using a PETG plate. Techniques include additive and subtractive mark-making, ink manipulation, layering, texture, and unique impressions.
Serigraphy
Students are introduced to screen printing through drawing fluid and screen filler. They learn image development, screen preparation, registration, ink preparation, squeegee technique, multi-layer printing, and screen cleanup.
Final Studio Session
The final session provides time to complete unfinished projects, troubleshoot technical issues, review the processes introduced throughout the course, and discuss continued independent studio practice.
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SDPS provides the primary course materials and shared studio equipment needed for instruction, including:
• Printmaking paper
• Linoleum and relief printing materials
• PETG plates
• Printmaking inks
• Serigraphy materials
• Drawing fluid and screen filler
• Squeegees and brayers
• Registration materials
• Shared studio equipment
• Press access appropriate to each project
• Cleaning and studio suppliesStudents should bring a sketchbook, pencils, drawing materials, and clothing appropriate for studio work.
Course Tuition: $200
Materials Fee: $50, paid directly to the instructor
Community Member Tuition: $175
Supporting Member Tuition: $150
8 weeks
Thursdays, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
October 15
October 22
October 29
November 5
November 12
November 19
December 3
Instructor: Kelvin Lopez
Email: printmaking@
sandiegoprintmakingsociety.org
kelvinlopezstudio.org
Relief Printmaking
Develop your relief printmaking practice through large format block printing, woodblock techniques, reduction printing, and experimental registration.
Students will begin with an 18 x 24 inch block before progressing to larger scale printing and a multi color reduction project.
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Project 1: 18 × 24 Inch Large-Format Relief
Students develop an 18 × 24 inch relief block and learn:
• Large-scale image development
• Image transfer
• Positive and negative space
• Large-format carving
• Safe carving techniques
• Block preparation
• Ink preparation
• Registration
• Large-format press operation
• Edition printingProject 2: Large-Scale & Jigsaw Printing
Students move beyond the initial 18 × 24 inch format and explore larger compositions through jigsaw-style block printing, multiple block arrangements, and experimental approaches to large-format relief.
Final dimensions and construction will be determined by the project and class development.
Project 3: Reduction Printing
Students develop a single block that is progressively carved and printed to create a multi-color image.
Students will explore:
• Color planning
• Registration planning
• Light-to-dark printing
• Progressive carving
• Layering colors
• Edition consistency
• Multi-color registration
• Final edition printing -
SDPS provides access to:
• Relief printing blocks and course materials
• Printmaking inks
• Printing paper
• Brayers
• Carving tools
• Registration materials
• Printing tables
• Large-format press equipment
• Shared studio supplies
• Cleaning suppliesStudents should bring a sketchbook, pencils, drawing materials, and clothing appropriate for studio work.
Course Tuition: $180
Materials Fee: $30
Community Member Tuition: $155
Supporting Member Tuition: $130
6 weeks
Thursdays, 2:00 - 6:00 pm
October 15
October 22
October 29
November 5
November 12
November 19
Instructor: Kelvin Lopez
Email: printmaking@ sandiegoprintmakingsociety.org
kelvinlopezstudio.org
ETCHING
Explore the fundamentals of intaglio printmaking through a six week introduction to etching.
Students will work through a progression of drypoint, spitbite, and aquatint techniques while learning plate preparation, mark making, acid etching, stopouts, inking, wiping, and printing.
The course emphasizes experimentation, technical precision, and developing a foundation for continued independent etching practice.
No previous etching experience is required.
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Project 1: 18 × 24 Inch Large-Format Relief
Students develop an 18 × 24 inch relief block and learn:
• Large-scale image development
• Image transfer
• Positive and negative space
• Large-format carving
• Safe carving techniques
• Block preparation
• Ink preparation
• Registration
• Large-format press operation
• Edition printingProject 2: Large-Scale & Jigsaw Printing
Students move beyond the initial 18 × 24 inch format and explore larger compositions through jigsaw-style block printing, multiple block arrangements, and experimental approaches to large-format relief.
Final dimensions and construction will be determined by the project and class development.
Project 3: Reduction Printing
Students develop a single block that is progressively carved and printed to create a multi-color image.
Students will explore:
• Color planning
• Registration planning
• Light-to-dark printing
• Progressive carving
• Layering colors
• Edition consistency
• Multi-color registration
• Final edition printing -
SDPS provides access to:
• Relief printing blocks and course materials
• Printmaking inks
• Printing paper
• Brayers
• Carving tools
• Registration materials
• Printing tables
• Large-format press equipment
• Shared studio supplies
• Cleaning suppliesStudents should bring a sketchbook, pencils, drawing materials, and clothing appropriate for studio work.
Course Tuition: $180
Materials Fee: $30
Community Member Tuition: $155
Supporting Member Tuition: $130
6 weeks
Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
October 14
October 21
October 28
November 4
November 11
November 18
Instructor: Kelvin Lopez
Email: printmaking@
sandiegoprintmakingsociety.org
kelvinlopezstudio.org
Introduction to Serigraphy:
Hand-Cut Stencils, Drawing Fluid
& Screen Filler
Introduction to Serigraphy is a six-week foundational course in screen printing designed for beginners and artists new to the medium.
Students will explore multiple approaches to creating printable stencils, beginning with hand-cut stencil paper before progressing into drawing fluid and screen filler.
Through demonstrations and guided studio practice, students will learn how an image is translated into a screen printing stencil, how screens are prepared and registered, how inks are mixed and applied, and how consistent editions are produced.
The course emphasizes understanding the complete screen printing workflow while developing safe, efficient, and repeatable studio habits.
No previous screen printing experience is required.
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Project 1: Hand-Cut Stencil Printing
Students develop a simple image and translate it into a hand-cut stencil using stencil paper.
Students will learn:
• Positive and negative space
• Image development
• Stencil preparation
• Screen setup
• Jig board setup
• Ink preparation
• Flooding the screen
• Squeegee technique
• Registration
• Edition printingProject 2: Drawing Fluid & Screen Filler
Students transition into direct screen drawing using drawing fluid and screen filler.
Students will learn:
• Image development
• Drawing directly onto a screen
• Drawing fluid application
• Screen filler application
• Screen washout
• Screen preparation
• Ink mixing
• Registration
• Multi-layer printing
• Edition printing
• Screen cleanupProject 3: Two-Color Screen Print
Students combine the techniques introduced throughout the course to produce a finished two-color screen print.
The project includes:
• Image development
• Color separation
• Screen preparation
• Registration
• Ink mixing
• Printing
• Editioning
• Screen cleanup -
SDPS provides course-specific consumable materials and shared studio equipment, including:
• Stencil paper
• Drawing fluid
• Screen filler
• Professional screen printing inks
• Archival printmaking paper
• Squeegees
• Registration materials
• Jig boards
• Cleaning supplies
• Shared screen-printing equipmentScreen Requirement
Students must purchase their own screen for this course.
SDPS will provide specifications and guidance regarding the appropriate screen size and mesh.
Students should bring a sketchbook, pencil, optional reference imagery, and clothing appropriate for studio work.
Course Tuition: $180
Materials Fee: $30
Community Member Tuition: $155
Supporting Member Tuition: $130
6 weeks
Tuesdays, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10
November 17
Instructor: Kelvin Lopez
Email: printmaking@
sandiegoprintmakingsociety.org
kelvinlopezstudio.org
Serigraphy:
Photo Emulsion, Color Separation & CMYK Screen Printing
Serigraphy is a six-week course for artists with previous screen printing experience who want to develop a more advanced technical understanding of screen printing.
Taught by Thomas Sherman, the course focuses on photo emulsion, transparency preparation, color separation, screen exposure, photographic imagery, halftones, registration, and CMYK screen printing.
Students will follow the complete workflow from developing artwork and drawing or preparing imagery on transparencies through screen exposure, developing individual color separations, registration, printing, and final edition production.
The course is designed to help students understand how photographic and digitally prepared imagery can be translated into multiple screens and ultimately combined through successive layers of ink to create a full-color CMYK print.
Previous screen printing experience is recommended.
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Project 1: Transparency Preparation & Color Separation
Students begin by developing artwork for screen printing and preparing individual color separations.
Students will explore:
• Image preparation
• Drawing and working on transparencies
• Color separation
• CMYK color channels
• Preparing individual screens
• Transparency placement
• Registration planning
• Screen coatingProject 2: Photo Emulsion & Screen Exposure
Students will learn the complete photo-emulsion process.
Students will work through:
• Screen preparation
• Photo-emulsion application
• Drying screens
• Transparency registration
• Exposure
• Developing screens
• Washout
• Screen inspection
• Touch-ups and corrections
• Preparing screens for printingProject 3: CMYK Screen Printing
Students will bring the individual color separations together through a CMYK printing workflow.
Students will explore:
• Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black separations
• Screen registration
• Layer sequencing
• Ink preparation
• Transparent inks
• Color interaction
• Printing successive color layers
• Registration troubleshooting
• Building a full-color image through multiple screensFinal Edition
The final sessions focus on completing the CMYK print, troubleshooting registration and color issues, producing a consistent edition, reclaiming screens, and reviewing the complete photo-emulsion workflow.
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SDPS provides course-specific consumables and shared studio equipment, including:
• Photo emulsion
• Professional screen printing inks
• Archival printmaking paper
• Transparency materials
• Squeegees
• Registration materials
• Jig boards
• Screen coating equipment
• Exposure equipment
• Washout facilities
• Cleaning and reclaiming suppliesScreen Requirement
Students must purchase their own screen for this course.
SDPS will provide specifications and guidance regarding the appropriate screen size and mesh for the projects.
What to Bring
Students should bring:
• Laptop if using digital artwork
• Sketchbook
• Drawing materials
• Reference imagery
• Existing artwork or photographic material for development
• Clothing appropriate for studio work
Course Tuition: $180
Materials Fee: $30
Community Member Tuition: $155
Supporting Member Tuition: $130
6 weeks
Tuesdays, 2:00 - 6:00 pm
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10
November 17
Instructor: Thomas Sherman
thomassherman.com
THANKSGIVING STUDIO CLOSURE
San Diego Printmaking Society will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2026 for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving programming.
Regular programming resumes following the holiday closure.
CONTINUING YOUR PRINTMAKING PRACTICE
SDPS courses are designed to be a starting point for continued artistic development.
Students are encouraged to continue exploring printmaking through additional courses, workshops, exhibitions, community programming, and Tiempo Libre studio access.
San Diego Printmaking Society is committed to creating an accessible, artist-centered printmaking community where students can develop technical skills, build relationships, experiment across processes, and continue their creative practice beyond the classroom.