Introduction to Traditional French Pochoir

 Registration is closed for this event

September 7th, 2019 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Kitty Maryatt
  • Workshop Type: Binding, Arts
  • Workshop Status: Wait-list
  • Workshop Start: September 7th, 2019 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: September 8th, 2019 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 2

The word pochoir in French simply means stencil, which has been done by every culture since mankind blew iron oxide around their hands onto cave walls. As the French are known to do, they developed particularly sophisticated stencil techniques in the early twentieth century. This workshop will introduce the basics of printing multiples through such stencils. The steps involve the following: trace the imagery that you want to reproduce, develop a registration system, indentify and separate the colors, cut aluminum plates by hand, mix gouache colors, prime the French pochoir brush and apply the liquid in a swirling fashion.

Demonstrations of tracing images and cutting the plates will be shown first. Participants will trace one color from the image and cut an aluminum plate. The instructor will bring a pre-designed image with plates already cut so that participants can immediately learn the brush techniques. The six colors will be applied as the group makes an edition of the image. Then we will look at the images brought in by participants and discover which images are appropriate to reproduce in this way, including printing a base image.

Next, participants will select or create an image to be reproduced and go through the steps to make an edition of that image. Since this is an introduction, the focus will be on problem-solving and experiencing the joy of vibrant and true color. Additional techniques used on La Prose will be highlighted and demonstrated.


Materials to Bring: Removable scotch tape, pochoir brush from Talas: $50 for size 44 (optional), drawing pencil (hard lead) with sharpener or technical mechanical pencil (Staedtler or Faber-Castell) with H lead if possible, eraser (Pentel Clic Eraser if possible), printmaking papers to experiment with: Arches Cover, Rives BFK, Frankfurt, etc. Images that might be appropriate for pochoir; example: Kandinsky early paintings, letterpress printed works that you want to add color to, your own imagery.

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during workshop: Cutting mat, utility knife with snap-off blade, ruler

Workshop Fee (includes $56 materials fee): $400.00

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, September 7 & 8, 2019 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | Kitty Maryatt

Kitty Maryatt is Director Emerita of the Scripps College Press in Claremont, CA. She taught letterpress printing for thirty years; students made an editioned book every semester. Since her retirement in 2016, she has been working full-time on re-creating La Prose du Transsibérien in an edition of 150 copies, plus 30 hors commerce. She studied pochoir with Atelier Coloris in Ploubazlenac, France.

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States