Want to brush up on some skills? Learn something new? The Continuing Education programs at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) may be perfect for you! This past Saturday, Erin and I braved the bitter cold and embarked on another adventure together to learn all things lithography.
"Learn the rules like a pro to break them like an artist."—Pablo Picasso
Always on the lookout for a steal, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up for a preview class - a chance to explore a class before committing to the entire course. Given my love for vintage children's books filled with gorgeous illustrations and Erin's innate need to doodle on everything (paper and non-paper), this was the class for us! Stepping out of the vertigo inducing elevator onto the printmaking floor, our eyes were met by student spaces, the student archive, and the workroom. What is it about being in a studio that is so inspiring? Maybe it's the picture windows sending sunshine over the presses and workstations. Maybe it's the works in progress around the room, revealing thought processes and methods. Whatever the reason, we both erupted in smiles and excitement for what the day would reveal.
Professor Ron Wyffels made the entire day packed with information and action without being overwhelming - perfect for someone like me who arrived with no prior experience. Our top 3 favorite takeaways:
Grease can come from anywhere including grease pencils, makeup, and even fast food!
The same rosin used by violinists is used as part of the process to make the drawing on stone printable.
Most of the limestones used at PAFA come from Munich, Germany.
We walked away richer from the experience, a If you cannot attend a class, a great opportunity to get your foot in the door is the free lecture Visiting Artist: Amy Sherald on January 24th. Let's make art!
Philed by Kim Iburg
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
118 - 128 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102 US