Drypoint Etching on Plexiglass

Unleash Your Inner Engraver in this two-day Drypoint Etching on Plexiglass Workshop suitable for beginners eager to quickly grasp the fundamentals of this tactile intaglio technique. You’ll learn to scratch directly into a smooth Plexiglas plate, creating unique burrs that hold ink and produce velvety lines when printed.

Through focused, hands-on practice, you’ll become familiar with essential drypoint tools and techniques, mastering the process of creating and printing your own unique plate. You’ll explore how different tools and pressure affect line quality and experiment with basic inking and wiping methods to reveal the character of your marks.

The workshop begins with a concise overview of drypoint and the characteristics of Plexiglas as a printing surface. You’ll quickly move into exploring mark-making techniques and then progress through inking and hand-printing your plate to take home your very own original drypoint prints at the end of the workshop. 

All basic consumable supplies, including Plexiglas plates and drypoint tools for use during the workshop, will be provided.

At the end of the second class, participants will share their drypoint prints and discuss the techniques learned and potential next steps.

Workshop Breakdown 

Day 1: 

• Introduction to Drypoint: Understanding the process, the unique quality of the drypoint line, and the characteristics of Plexiglas.
• Tools and Safety: Introduction to basic drypoint tools and safe handling techniques. Hands-on practice with different tools on scrap Plexiglas to explore mark-making.
• Designing Your Plate: Simple design considerations for drypoint. Transferring a basic sketch or working directly onto the plate.
• Scratching Your Image: Focused time for participants to create their designs on their Plexiglas plates, experimenting with varying pressure and tool angles.
• Initial Proofing: Introduction to basic inking (wiping with fingers or soft cloth) and hand-printing techniques to see initial results and refine the plate.

Day 2: 

• Refining Your Plate: Based on the initial proofs, participants will have time to further develop the lines and textures on their plates.
• Inking and Wiping Techniques: Demonstration of more controlled inking and wiping methods to enhance tonal range and bring out the burr.
• Final Printing: Participants will ink and hand-print a small series of their drypoint plates on provided paper.
• Wrap-up and Sharing: A brief sharing of the prints created and a discussion of the techniques learned and potential for future exploration in drypoint.

Refund and Cancellation Policy: Attendees can request refunds up to 24 hours prior to the class start time. Classes must meet a minimum enrollment number to run.

About the instructor:

Jacoub Reyes is an artist and public academic based in Florida. His artistic research centers his Caribbean and Pakistani background as a relational point which he utilizes to expand on themes of colonialism, social response, and ecosystems as seen in his work with The IEA, Ma’s House, Latinx Project, and CENTRO. His projects with Alfred University, Hunter College, UCSF, and other prestigious institutions have garnered international acclaim. He graduated from the University of Central Florida receiving a BFA in Drawing and Printmaking. He went on to receive certifications in sustainable materials from Parsons. The intersections found in his work have allowed him to travel globally, engaging in lectures, workshops, and community events with Southern Graphics Council International, Mid America Print Council, Frontera Galeria Urbana, Museum of Latin American Art and others. Notable awards and fellowships include the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort, South Florida Cultural Consortium Grant, and The Puffin Foundation, among others. Reyes is currently an Oolite Arts Live.in.Art Resident, the Artistic Director for the City of Boynton Beach’s Quantum Eco-Park, and the President of the Florida Printmakers Society.