ARTS245 - Printmaking

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Incompatible

ARTS225 Print Media

Unit rationale, description and aim

Printmaking has a rich tradition in the visual arts that, through its various mediums, can concisely communicate to and reflect the modern world.

This unit is designed to develop students' skills and techniques in printmaking that includes a broad range of practices such as lino printing, screen printing, intaglio and mono printing. The historical lineage and critical framework from which printmaking has emerged will inform students' development of concepts, skills and techniques through studio-based projects. It also focuses on developing confidence with visual arts making, presenting and discussing art processes and ideas in order for students to make critical insights about their own art practice and contemporary art in Australia and internationally.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Make evident an understanding of the interrelationship between printmaking practices, techniques and research (GA4, GA5, GA8, GA10)

LO2 - Create project-based artworks using diverse approaches, methods, techniques and materials (GA4, GA5, GA8)

LO3 - Analyse and interpret contemporary printmaking art forms in the context of your own practice (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA8)

LO4 - Critically evaluate the way in which historical and theoretical contexts of art can inform your own practice (GA8, GA9, GA10)

Graduate attributes

GA3 - Apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - Think critically and reflectively

GA5 - Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession

GA8 - Locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information

GA9 - Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media

GA10 - Utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively

Content

Topics will include:

This studio-based unit supports the development of students' individual art making intentions in printmaking. It should develop their technical skills, knowledge and understanding of printmaking through practical demonstrations, workshops and printmaking clinics, as well as lectures detailing historical and contemporary practitioners. The content of art history and theory units studied concurrently with studio-based units will also serve to inform students of the historical and theoretical contexts which underpin their own practice. The emphasis of the unit is on an open-ended investigation of art forms through rigorous project-based studio exercises that form the overall assessment requirements for this unit.

There will be a focus on Workplace Health and Safety for the professional artist.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The learning and teaching strategy for this unit focuses on fostering studio culture where core competencies such as skills-based printmaking techniques, critical and reflective thinking, and research investigations occur. This is implemented through weekly lectures, practical demonstrations and exercises/clinics that contextualise the assessments relative to the learning outcomes in the context of contemporary printmaking practice and its historical lineage. This unit also introduces students to a variety of mediums, techniques and processes, as well as historical and contemporary practitioners. Group discussion about the artworks in progress will promote critical thinking about how cultural production contributes to society and the ethical perspectives associated with exhibiting artwork publicly.

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome. Learning outcomes based on acquired knowledge through lectures, workshops, and practical exercises, as well as their creative responses to briefs. These briefs will emphasise both the technical and conceptual aspects of printmaking and the encouragement of critical reflection, as well as helping to attain the graduate attributes set out within this unit outline.

The portfolio of prints A assignment assesses skills and techniques acquired during lectures/demonstrations in the use of the printmaking practices, techniques and wider research. This meets LO1.

The portfolio of prints B assignment assesses skills and techniques acquired during lectures/demonstrations and studio practice in the use of the technical applications and use of variable media. This meets LO1 and LO2.

The Self-Directed artwork plus research documentation task ties together skills in competency developed throughout the lectures and practical sessions and tests skills in the documentation of Visual Arts research processes and an understanding of contemporary art practice and how this informs their own practical work. This final assessment task meets LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Covey, Sylvie. (2016). Modern printmaking: A guide to traditional and digital techniques. Watson-Guptill Publications Inc.

Grishin, S., & Leti, B. (2011). Bruno Leti, portrait of a printmaker: matrix to paper, forty years of printmaking. Macmillan.

Hartill, B. & Clarke, R., (2004). Collagraphs and mixed-media printmaking. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Martin, Judy. (2018), A guide to printmaking techniques. Search Press Ltd.

McDonald, J., (2009). Woodblock painting of Cressida Campbell (2nd ed.). Public Pictures.

Stanfield, Francis. (2019). The printmaking ideas book. Octopus Publishing Group.