A range of print projects, shaped to the group
Some sessions begin with a first-time carving block and end with a single bold print. Others move into edition work, where the same image is pulled several times with care, so colour, pressure and alignment stay steady across each sheet. The project range at HandPrinter Art covers beginner carving, press printing, family sessions, student classes and teacher workshops.
- Lino and soft-cut blocks for clean carving and easy handling
- Gouges and V-tools for line, texture and edge control
- Brayers for even ink loading before printing
- Water-based and oil-based block inks, chosen for the paper and pace of the session
School visits that need a tidy room and clear hands-on flow
School pop-up projects suit classrooms, libraries and multipurpose spaces where the group can work in stages. Carving needs a safe bench setup, then inking and printing can move to shared tables with paper stacks, drying areas and a simple order of work. The final outcome may be one class print, or a set of individual prints that students take home.
For school work, the practical details matter: table space, wash-up access, paper protection and a route for moving tools without crowding. A teacher skills session can also focus on how to guide carving, manage tools and keep the printing area organised.
Studio sessions for adults, students and mixed groups
Studio-based projects in Woodstock work well when the group wants more time with the block and the print. Adult sessions often move from drawing to carving, then to test prints, registration checks and an edition on paper with a cleaner finish. Student groups may spend longer on texture, reduction methods or layered colour, depending on the brief.
- Private studio sessions for focused guidance
- Inking and printing classes for controlled edition work
- Edition print sessions for repeated pulls from one block
- Print finish sessions for trimming, signing and drying
Family and team sessions with a shared result
Family print projects work best when the block is simple enough for mixed ages, yet still gives each person a proper hand in the process. Team building sessions can use one shared image or separate blocks that print into a coordinated set. In both cases, the outcome is physical and immediate: carved marks, ink on paper and a print that shows each person's touch.
These sessions are often shaped around time, space and attention spans, so the process stays practical. A baren can be used for hand burnishing, while a press gives firmer pressure and a more even finish across larger papers.
Print methods that change the look of the final sheet
Different projects call for different print methods. Hand burnishing with a baren suits smaller sheets and a more tactile process. Press printing helps with consistency, especially when the paper is heavier or the edition needs a firmer impression. Registration marks keep colour layers aligned, which matters when a block is split into two or more passes.
- Safe carving steps for first-time block makers
- Test proofs to check line, ink load and pressure
- Edition numbering for finished sets
- Paper choices that suit both crisp detail and textured marks
From Cape Town to other venues across South Africa
Some projects stay in the studio, while others travel as pop-up classes to schools and venues in Stellenbosch, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. Outdoor or hired venues need extra care with table cover, drying space and paper handling, especially where coastal humidity or a busy room can affect drying. The setup changes, but the print process keeps the same core steps: carve, ink, register, print and finish.
That flexibility is useful for venues with limited storage or a tight room plan. It also helps when the session needs a lighter setup, or a fuller workshop with more tables, more blocks and more room for drying sheets.