As part of the ongoing partnership between Oundle School and Curwen Studios, the Art Scholars enjoyed an inspiring day immersed in the world of printmaking at the renowned Curwen Studios.
The scholars spent the day exploring the techniques of woodcut and wood etching, working alongside professional artists and learning about the processes and possibilities of relief printmaking. Established by the influential printmaker Sir Stanley Jones, Curwen Studios has a long and distinguished history of supporting artists and promoting the practice of printmaking.
Throughout the day, the scholars experimented with a range of techniques, producing an eclectic and exciting body of prints. They explored layering, masking, offset overlays and host prints, developing their ideas through a combination of experimentation, collaboration and hands-on making. The workshop provided an opportunity for the students to work beyond the traditional classroom environment and gain a deeper understanding of the technical and creative possibilities of print.
The visit also offered the scholars the opportunity to explore the remarkable Curwen Archive, which contains an impressive collection of Fine Art prints by some of the most significant artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Works by artists including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Paula Rego provided an important insight into the history and development of printmaking, as well as the ways in which established artists have used the medium to develop and communicate their ideas.
Alongside the archive, the scholars visited the temporary exhibition featuring work by Royal Academician Annie Duret RA, giving them a further opportunity to engage with contemporary printmaking and see the medium being used in innovative and thought-provoking ways.
The day at Curwen Studios was a valuable opportunity for the Art Scholars to develop their practical skills, broaden their understanding of printmaking and engage directly with both the history and contemporary practice of the medium. Most importantly, it was a day of experimentation and discovery, allowing the scholars to create an exciting body of work while gaining first-hand experience of working within a professional artistic environment.
