Explore the expressive potential of line through copper plate intaglio printmaking. In this workshop, you will investigate how line quality, density, and direction can be used to create value, form, atmosphere, and visual meaning through drypoint, etching, and engraving techniques. Working from both observation and imagination, you will experiment with a wide range of mark-making approaches—from fast, dynamic, and gestural lines to slow, deliberate engraving and cross-hatching. Through hands-on exploration, you will develop a deeper understanding of how different types of marks influence the content, character, and visual impact of an image. Special attention will be given to the échoppe, a modified etching needle capable of producing lines that vary in width, allowing you to create the illusion of value and volume through line alone. You will explore drypoint techniques and their translation into etched and engraved copper plates, comparing the unique visual qualities and expressive possibilities of each process. Participants are welcome to bring existing projects to develop further or begin new work during the workshop. Technical demonstrations will include Chine-collé and à la poupée printing methods, along with discussions of historical and contemporary approaches to intaglio printmaking.
