Students in the graduate printmaking program will utilize graduate level research and scholarship as an impetus for growth within studio practice. Investigation into historical cycles of printmaking will be fostered through assigned texts and exploration of primary resources available at RISD, especially The RISD Museum. A dialogue stemming from intensive studio work will be developed in varied formats by faculty, visiting artists and peers throughout the semester.
 

Major Requirement | MFA Printmaking

Students in the graduate printmaking program will utilize graduate level research and scholarship as an impetus for growth within studio practice. Investigation into historical cycles of printmaking will be fostered through assigned texts and exploration of primary resources available at RISD, especially The RISD Museum. A dialogue stemming from intensive studio work will be developed in varied formats by faculty, visiting artists and peers throughout the semester.

Major Requirement | MFA Printmaking

Over thousands of years, the materials and methods of drawing have evolved in response to the needs of artists and designers. Technical manuals, patents and other texts record specific drawing techniques. Research into these sources will lead to making actual drawing materials - inks, quill pens, grounds for metal point, chalks, etc. - which will be tested through a range of personal drawing projects and copies of historical works. Trials of newly available drawing materials will yield information about potential uses and permanency. Best practices for care and display of drawings will be covered throughout the course.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $90.00

Open to Sophomore, Junior or Senior Undergraduate Students.

Elective

This course addresses RISD’s Mission through a stunning exhibition from the Museum’s permanent collection, deep learning for students across design and fine arts and engagement with the public through a ground-breaking museum education program that embeds the classroom in the museum.

The RISD Museum has an extraordinary collection of historic French wallpapers that will be on view from November 2024 through May 2025. Students from Printmaking,

Textiles, Interior Architecture, Furniture and other disciplines will interact with the exhibition, other wallpapers at the museum and in archives and interiors in Providence. Skills will be shared at every step and a broad view of pattern and ornament will draw from printed art, textiles and sculptural/architectural ornament from many cultures. Students will develop new designs to be realized using reconstructed historical and innovative contemporary printing methods.

The RISD Museum Education Department is integral to the curriculum. Drawing on the expertise of our museum educators, students will participate in ongoing education programs under their supervision. Our classroom, the highly visible Museum Common Room on the first floor of the Chace Center, willed be filled with work in progress and students will install completed wallpapers around the RISD campus.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $175.00

Elective