Drawing using solar plates and colour viscosity printing

OVERVIEW

Tutor: Seraphina Martin

Dates: Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd November 2025

Time: 10am to 4pm both days

Cost: $210 current NPW Members, $240 Non NPW members

Plus a material cost of $40 per student payable to tutor on day one.

Enquiries: seraphina.print@gmail.com

Venue: Newcastle Printmakers Workshop, 27 Popran Road, Adamstown

This course requires a minimum of 6 participants to proceed.

Brief description : 

Day 1. Drawing will be the focus of this workshop using pencils, pens and gouache paints onto drafting paper. These will be exposed onto the solar plates in the sun and washed in water to reveal the image by means of a photo emulation film in the plate. 

Day 2. Many printing methods will be introduces such as A la poupée as well as stencils. Viscosity colour printing will be demonstrated using Inks of various colours, repelling each other to create multi coloured prints.  

Material cost:  $40 each student. What you will be supplied with:

• 2 A5 solar plates (or 1 A4 solar plate) and 1 test plate.

• Brayers

• Ink & applicators

• 10 sheets of printmaking paper cut to fit solar plates.

• Drafting paper for drawing.

• All intaglio inks and Viscosity inks.

• Tarlatan for wiping plates.

• Class notes.

• Generic images as inspiration if needed. 

• Small range of chine colle papers

• Rice glue & spray adhesive

This workshop is suitable for adults/18 years old and above.

What Students need to bring:

 A selection of drawings or images as a starting point A5 or A4. 

Disposable gloves from the supermarket. apron and closed shoes. 

Any drawing equipment ie pencils rubbers and rulers if you chose your own but basic material will be provided. 

There will be a short lunch break each day - please bring something with you. Tea and coffee are provided.

Covid Safety: Due to NPW’s Covid Policy participants must sign in, wash or sanitise their hands immediately upon entering the workshop and maintain physical distancing whenever possible during class. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have visited a COVID case location, or have been directed to isolate, you must not attend class.

ABOUT THE TUTOR

Seraphina Martin has been a practicing printmaker for many years. 

She has taught at the Sydney University Art workshop for 20 years as well as at Meadowbank, Hornsby and Nepean Tafe. She was introduced to Solar plates etching by American artist, Dan Weldon in 1994 who initiated the technique for artists. Seraphina has been working with solar plates since that time, teaching workshops in Hobart, Canberra and in Sydney.  In 2011 she was invited as artist in residence in Calcutta, India to teach solar plates at the Gov Art School. She teaches printmaking at Willoughby Art Centre, Sydney. 

She exhibits her work regularly and is represented in NGA, GNSW and private collections in Australia and Overseas.  

Email: seraphina.print@gmail.com