260919|19th September - 25th July 2027|A Journey Through Lithograhy Year Long Course

Location Leicester Print Workshop Date & Time Week long orientation: 19th September – 23rd September, 10am – 4pm First Weekend: 24th & 25th October / 10am – 4pm Second Weekend: 28th & 29th November / 10am – 4pm Tutor Serena Smith and Nora Hammenberg The aim of this year long course is to develop the lithographic practice of six participants, with the unique benefit of full access to the workshop facilities throughout the duration of the course. Building on the success of LPW’s Lithography Fellowship, at the core of this technical, artistic and intellectual journey, is both the 19th century medium of stone and the more recently developed photo-plate lithography. In addition to the core programme, included in the course is access to an ‘Alternative Lithography’ weekend course, to be booked by participant during the year. Through these contemporary and historic techniques, participants will be encouraged to experiment, challenge their creativity, fuel new ways of thinking and stimulate their artistic journeys. Proficiency in lithography is best gained through patient effort over time. This is reflected in the course structure which will begin with a rigorous technical training in the basics, to provide participants with a strong foundation for developing their practice. Together with a weeklong orientation there will be a full year of monthly studio contact with the tutors, and included in the course is a workshop induction, membership to LPW and free hours during open access. Once inducted into the studio, participants will benefit from access to good quality artist materials, the lithography resources (including the direct stone and hand offset presses, and intaglio presses) and general technician assistance, as well as written materials, and a safe and exclusive online space to facilitate sharing and peer to peer support. This will allow you to develop ideas, practice between sessions, and hone your skills at your own pace. The year will conclude with an exhibition in LPWs beautiful gallery space. The tutors, Nora Hammenberg and Serena Smith, bring the breadth of their experiences to this course: as artists to support and nurture the independent creative pathways of each student, and as professionally trained lithographers who will encourage participants to work collectively and collaboratively to develop their skills and practice. Whilst in following their own interests’ participants will be encouraged to pursue individual pathways. This year-long programme is aimed at intermediate level printmakers and is accessible for a wide range of starting points: from printmakers fairly new to the process or with little experience, to those with established lithographic skills who wish to develop their practice during a year of mentored support. The aim of the course is to create a community of learners who wish to grow, develop, and expand their knowledge, from wherever they begin their journey through lithography. If you are new to lithography, it is worth bearing in mind that this can be a physically and technically challenging process but one that rewards patience, practice and a level of dedication. A committed and enquiring individual who wishes to delve into the intriguing world of lithography, may find themselves at the starting point of a lifelong journey, led by the magical processes of lithography. FAQ Who is this suitable for? This course is designed for intermediate level printmakers. What experience or understanding of lithography processes must I have? Some prior knowledge and practical experience of lithography is required. Can I discuss any queries I may have with someone about if this course is right for me? Yes, please do contact the Education Manager, k.dacasto@leicesterprintworkshop.com and she will arrange for you to speak with Serena or Nora. Is there a way to spread payments for the year? We can discuss a range of ways to split payment – please contact k.kneller@leicesterprintworkshop.com Will there be any continuing assessment of progress? Feedback and assessment are continuous during the course through 1-2-1 contact sessions with the tutors. What materials will I have access to? During your taught weekend sessions all materials will be provided. How does the membership offer work? You will be encouraged to set up a time to complete a free induction to the studio space with a technician as soon as you can. This then allows you to use the studio whenever you like during open access hours *for free*. Your induction will set you up with all necessary Health and Safety processes and general studio procedures to ensure you are happy and comfortable using the space unaided. As a member, you will be able to purchase discounted art materials including paper and you will also receive a 10% discount code for courses. You will receive a digital ‘members pack’ which gives you important studio information, a reminder of procedures and price lists for any materials you may wish to purchase. How do I access the presses during Open Access? We run a booking system for the lithography presses and encourage members to call the studio to check if they are free – due to the nature of lithography you will often need to be at the press for a few hours at a time. We book half or full days and would encourage group members to coordinate visits between them. We have two stone presses, one offset lithoography press and two Rochats etching presses (Rochats are in general studio use and do not need to be booked) so we will always do our best to accommodate your needs over the processes you will be learning. What support will I receive during the year? You will have an initial week to orient yourself with the lithography area and various processes followed by 10 monthly weekend sessions with contact with either Nora or Serena. These sessions will include practical demonstrations, group tuition, individual mentoring, and critical feedback to support your progress. During regular Open Access hours there will always be a studio technician to help with basic queries. You will also be able to book one weekend of ‘alternative Lithography’ from a selection on offer from LPW’s course programme, details of which are released twice a year ensuring you will have the opportunity to develop your Lithography skills in the widest sense. Will the monthly sessions be studio based? Yes, you will usually have a ‘dry’ lay out space and then be working in the lithography area as necessary. Any visitors/speakers will come to LPW. If an offsite walk or visit is deemed appropriate it will be discussed in the group and plenty of advance warning given. Will there be a way to continue with my lithography practice after the end of the course? You would be able to join as a member and continue your practice in our studio. We also organise 1-2-1’s as requested and of course, we will be programming shorter and variable lithography courses as part of our education offer. You might also consider continuing on the Journey Through Lithography programme for subsequent years. I would like to discuss accommodation needs I may have, what do I do? Please email k.dacasto@leicesterprintworkshop.com with any queries, concerns or accommodations that may be necessary. Course structure Week long orientation: Sat 19th - Wed 23rd September 2026 Through collaboratively working you will be introduced to the basics of stone and photo plate lithography and the facilities at Leicester Print Workshop. This will included stone graining, basic drawing techniques and printing from lithography stone and photo plate. We will be introducing you to the use of our off-set press and direct lithography press. This week in the studio will ensure you have knowledge and confidence that will enable you to come into the workshop, using your free membership and hours, to develop your practice between the contact weekends with your tutors. This initial week will be an immersion into the processes and allow you to feel fully comfortable in the studio environment. During this week, and for the taught weekends, all materials necessary will be provided. First Weekend: 24th + 25th October Following on from the introductory orientation, we will build on the technical knowledge and skills through practice and repetition to develop each participant’s proficiency and confidence with the lithographic processes. Second Weekend: 28th + 29th November During this second weekend of tuition, alongside building on the technical skills as above, we will review the ongoing practice of each participant and discuss their individual learning pathways. Tutor Bios Nora Hammenberg is a lithographer and artist from Sweden and it was there that her journey through lithography began. This continued when she travelled to the USA where she studied to become a collaborative printer at the Tamarind Institute in 2014-2015. She is now one of only seven lithographers in the United Kingdom with this unique education. In 2018 she opened the doors to her own lithography workshop, the Stone Tree Press, where she offered courses and printed fine art lithography editions in collaboration with artists, utilising her skills gained at the Tamarind Institute. In addition to the work with Stone Tree Press, she has been involved with the lithography programme at Leicester Print Workshop as well offering courses in Sweden. Hammenberg has a passion for the traditional way of creating lithography prints through collaboration between artist and printer and is keen to keep these lithographic skills alive. Lately she has been focussing on her own art practice and is currently working on a series of lithographs at Leicester Print Workshop. www.instagram.com/stonetreepress/ Serena Smith (PhD ARE) began her lithographic journey in 1985 at the Curwen Studio in London, where she was Stanley Jones’ assistant for twelve years. Her subsequent and ongoing practice as artist, lithographer and educator has been indelibly shaped by the legacy of her formative training as a collaborative studio printer. As one of the studio team, in partnership with Leicester Print Workshop she developed and mentored the Lithography Fellowship programme for a number of years. Alongside a teaching practice spanning over 20 years, Smith is an internationally recognised lithographer who exhibits widely; her bookworks and stone lithographs are held in several public collections. www.serenasmith.org/ Leicester Print Workshop Leicester Print Workshop is the regional development centre for printmaking. Established by artists in 1986, we are a registered charity, supported by Arts Council England. Our RIBA award-winning building is situated in Leicester City Centre's Cultural Quarter and is home to a large, well equipped open access Printmaking Studio. We have over 30 years’ experience of teaching people printmaking. Our programme offers the largest number and broadest range of printmaking courses in the region, with courses suitable for beginners as well as experienced printmakers, delivered by practicing artists and nationally renowned tutors. Participants learn in small and friendly groups in our purpose-designed studio. Bookings Online: You can book online here by credit / debit card or Paypal. Telephone: You can pay by card over the phone during our opening hours (Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm). Call us on 0116 251 4174. In person: Call in to Leicester Print Workshop during our opening hours (Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm) to book and pay by card, cash or cheque. Pre-course information: We will send you details of how to find us and what to bring with you when we process your booking. Concessions Full-Print Members of Leicester Print Workshop are entitled to a 10% discount on our inhouse courses. Interested in joining LPW as a member? Click here for more information.