The Printmaking program at CMU offers a dynamic array of courses from Intaglio and Relief, Lithography, to Screenprinting. In the introductory course’s students will be taught the foundational techniques, processes, and tools used in the printmaking medium. As the courses progress students will gain confidence in the medium as they are encouraged to explore the intricacies of the techniques and their personal vision.
Printmaking has a strong historical background which influences the current studio practice allowing a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques to be taught. In the upper division courses students are encouraged to expand the complexity of the projects, develop creative thinking skills, and personal artistic concepts to focus on. In printmaking, students must demonstrate strong technical skills with craftsmanship, conceptual growth, and a mature understanding of the historical and contemporary methods and techniques. The final courses will involve the production of a portfolio, development of an artist statement, and the ability to orally communicate about the artwork.
Lithography Class
Student Work
Professor of Art, Printmaking and Drawing, Joshua Butler
Joshua Butler's Biography
Images of Josh Butler's artwork: 
ARTS 274 Printmaking: Intaglio and Relief
Introduces concepts and techniques of intaglio and relief printmaking processes. Includes non-acid and acid intaglio techniques such as drypoint, hard ground/line etch, soft ground, aquatint, multiple plate printing, a la poupee wiping, and chine-colle. Relief processes include linoleum cut and woodcut.
ARTS 275 Printmaking: Screen Printing and Lithography
Introduction to the techniques, concepts, and history of screen print and lithography printmaking processes. Screen printing techniques include experimental monoprint, multiple color registration, and photo emulsion. Lithography techniques include black and white and multiple color printing from stone and photo plates. Emphasis will be placed on technical development, concept and idea generation, craftsmanship, and studio participation.
ARTS 370 Printmaking: Intermediate Lithography
Introduces advanced concepts and techniques of fine art lithography, including traditional aluminum plate lithography, multiple color, hybrid or combination prints, and chine-colle techniques. Development of creative skills, conceptual direction, craftsmanship, and studio involvement.
ARTS 371 Printmaking Workshop I
Develop skills with intaglio, relief, and lithograph. Exploration of advanced techniques. May include multiple color printing processes, engraving, and collagraph. Work created will be matted.
ARTS 372 Printmaking Workshop II
Exploration of printmaking media. Investigation of a printmaker of choice to develop critical thinking about personal artistic skills. Artwork created will be matted, shown in a public space, and documented digitally.
ARTS 375 Printmaking: Advanced Screen Printing
Continued development and refinement of the techniques and concepts of fine art screen printing, including in-depth exploration of color, size, scale, and complexity of multiple layer imagery. Emphasis will be put on the development of creative thinking, developing personal artistic concepts, and portfolio development.
ARTS 376 Printmaking: Advanced Intaglio and Relief
Advanced intaglio and relief techniques, history, and concepts will be explored. These will include monoprinting, mezzotint, and various digital technologies and techniques such as CNC (computer navigated control) routing, and kento registration techniques. Research projects into other printmaking techniques will be done on individual basis. Emphasis will be on demonstration of technical development, conceptual growth, craftsmanship, and studio participation.
ARTS 471 Printmaking Workshop III
Research a printmaking technique that has not been introduced. Create a print and present the method. Develop a professional portfolio of artwork for senior exhibition and professional shows. Artwork created will be matted and documented digitally.
ARTS 472 Printmaking Workshop IV3 Credits
Technical refinement and conceptual development. Refining a personal direction for the artist's imagery. Artwork created will be matted and documented digitally.
ARTS 473 Printmaking Workshop V3 Credits
Creation of a mature and cohesive series of prints that demonstrate a solution or solutions to a creative problem posed by the individual. Artwork will demonstrate technical mastery and conceptual sophistication; student will provide a mature written artist statement and high-quality photo documentation. Oral critique where the artist verbalizes the context of their artwork within the contemporary art world.
ARTS 476 Printmaking: Portfolio Development Credit
Development of a professional body of artwork that demonstrates technical, creative, and conceptual maturity. Students will design, implement, and assess their own creative research goals under the tutelage of the professor. Artwork will be photographed and presented in a portfolio with the intention of entering the art profession. The course may be repeated for credit.
- Two lithography presses and a lithography stone library with 35 stones
- Flat file storage and lockers
- Hotplates andglass table tops for intaglio printing and rolling ink
- A proofing wall for the drying and displaying of artwork
- Acid room with aquatint box, nitric acid bath, and a ferric cholride tank
- Separate room for screen printing with a spray wash booth, light proof box, emulsion table, exposure table, wash out tub, and storage
- Proper safety gear including a ventilation system, eye wash station, gloves, and eye protection
We are the Printmaking Guild at CMU. We hand create custom print designs, and then print them to shirts, posters, notebooks and more! We take commission from clubs, organizations and individuals. Interested in getting in touch with Printmaking Guild? Contact Professor Joshua Butler for details.
