In this workshop, by print and book artist Marcia McClellan, students create unique artist books about the Arizona desert using a variety of printmaking techniques. To begin the workshop students investigate different book structures, learn about print studios and the printing press and see actual fine art prints and the plates used to create them.

Students have the opportunity to create covers for their books by drawing abstract forms inspired by the lines and shapes found in desert cacti. The abstract drawings are then painted on using a relief printing technique and textured brayers.

To create the center sections of his or her book, each student is given a Plexiglas printing plate and printing inks. Students experiment with the inks to create various skies and grounds as they develop their own vision of the desert. Inks are applies in layers, adding to the atmospheric effects in the desert backgrounds. During the workshop each student also makes a collagraph printing plate for printing on the back of the center book section.

Mixing Ink

 Book covers and centers are then folded and glued together by each student to create an accordion book structure.

To complete the artist books, students learn to draw desert cacti that are glued onto the printed desert backgrounds. Finally, each student selects a title for his or her book and creates an artist book colophon that is glued onto the back of the book.