Printmaking

BFA Printmaking: The Program

The BFA printmaking program at Shepherd gives the undergraduate student an opportunity to explore lithography, intaglio, relief and monoprint processes. The first two years of the program provide an introduction to printmaking and to fine art theory and practice. Students are encouraged to develop compositional skills in printmaking classes as well as in all studio art classes. Problem solving techniques and exposure to a variety of media and processes are encouraged and developed during the first two years. The last two years the student will be expected to develop a personal style through exposure to contemporary art, theory and practice. Students will explore contemporary applications of print media and will develop their own unique methods and visual vocabulary.

What is Printmaking?

Many students considering art as a major are unfamiliar with the term Printmaking. Printmaking makes use of skills and talents utilized in both painting and drawing for the creation of multiple images. In drawing or painting the student produces only one original work of art, whereas in printmaking the student has the ability to produce as many identical images as he or she desires. Printmaking is an old and honored method of creating original works of art. There are many methods and ways of generating images. At Shepherd the faculty enjoy watching students learn new and exciting ways to create printed images utilizing intaglio, lithographic and relief processes.

Careers in Printmaking

A BFA in printmaking does not in and of itself promise job placement opportunities for the graduate. Rather, the student must love the craft of print and be willing to discover innovative ways to utilize print skills to further their financial opportunities. Printmaking graduates have successfully: opened their own Printshops where they print for others and offer classes, teach college level printmaking, sell their work at craft shows, galleries, and other venues, work in museums with print collections, or as exhibition curators, or installation workers, earn a teaching certificate and teach in the public schools, or own or work in frame shops.

Internships and Opportunities

Shepherd University is lucky to be located near Washington D.C. and Baltimore MD. Both of these cities are home to reputable studio printshops willing to engage interns. Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring, MD and Goya Girl Press, Baltimore have excellent national reputations and offer internships. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria has a teaching printshop with internship opportunities in both the shop and the gallery. The Smithsonian Institute has print related opportunities for archival and curatorial work with paper, prints and drawings.