Print & Book Arts
Illustration by Nan Johnson, G ID 76: Illustration & Digital Imaging
Make life interesting! Join our creative community.
The Graphic & Interactive Design program (GID) at Foothill College offers extensive Print and Book Arts courses taught by actively exhibiting artists and professional designers. Our Graphic Arts Studios are energized environments for both mastering craft and producing works of cultural expression in the graphic arts.
What is Print & Book Arts?
Print Arts covers a broad spectrum of print technologies from letterpress printing (think Gutenberg), to digital printmaking (think inkjet). Print processes include screenprinting, etching and intaglio, relief, lithography and monoprinting. Print projects include fine art prints, multiples, ephemera, broadsides, posters, postcards, mail art, t-shirt printing, and book arts.
Book Arts covers a range of processes from book design and hand bookbinding to more contemporary and hybrid applications including artists books, scrapbooks, journals, zines, comic books, boxes and portfolios, altered books and one-of-a-kind books.
Print and book artists incorporate the skills of painting and drawing, collage and assemblage, photography and digital imaging, paper making and printmaking. Courses in these subjects are offered through the departments of Art (ART), Graphic & Interactive Design (GID), and Photography (PHOT). See links to your left. Print & Book Arts courses use non-toxic printmaking processes and integrate traditional and digital media.
How do I Register?
Print & Book Art courses are offered through the Graphic & Interactive Design department (GID). Register for classes here. This page is maintained by faculty member Kent Manske and students and is an on-going work in progress. Contact us for addtional information.
HAPPENINGS & EVENTS
Exhibitions on Campus
Revolving Exhibitions on Campus
Print & Book Arts Studio, Studio 1801
Appreciation Hall, building 1500
Foothill Gallery of Photography and Digital Imaging, building 6100
Krause Center for Innovation Gallery, building 4000
Foothill College Library Gallery, building 3500
Media Center Gallery, building 3600
Campus Center Display Cases, building 2200 & 2300
Lohman Theatre Gallery, building 8000
Euphrat Museum of Art (DeAzna Campus)
Tortilla Curtain Project
Foothill College Media Center Gallery
Tortilla Curtain Project
Regional Exhibitions & Events
Book Works 2008 Exhibition
July 1- September 26
Downtown San Francisco Public Library
PCBA
Book Arts Jam 2008
October 18, 10 am - 4 pm
Foothill College
Book Arts Jam
Codex 2009: Considering the Book as a Work of Art
February 8-11
Codex Foundation
Bay Area Book Artists
member exhibitions
San Francisco Center for the Book
SFCB
Links to Happenings
Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design
Village Savant
Bay Area Arts Scene
Kent's Guide to Galleries & Museums .pdf
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2008- 2009
YEAR LONG CLASSES
July 2008- June 2009
GID 94: Book Arts Professional Practices
Course Description:
Introduction to the professional practices of the book artist and book arts organizations.
Application of strategies to create, critique, exhibit and distribute artist's books.
Participation in community based learning through the organization and implementation of book art events and activities. GID 94
About the Course
Book Arts Professional Practices is a student-run class initiated to serve the artistic needs and develop the professional skills of the extended community of Bay Area book artists, including the active members of Bay Area Book Artists (BABA), an ongoing 12-year old informal association of book artists which welcomes new members. The class runs July through June each year. We meet one Sunday each month for hands-on workshops on specific book arts topics. We meet one Thursday evening each month to plan events, share information & resources, and to share books with each other. As an annual project, BABA co-sponsors the annual Book Arts Jam with Foothill College. For additional info, Contact Kent Manske.
Meeting Times:
First Sunday of every month, 12 pm- 4:00 pm, Foothill Main Campus (Los Altos Hills), room 1801
Third Thursday of every month, 7:30- 9:30 pm, Middlefield Campus (Palo Alto), room MCJ5
GID 95: Graphic Arts Studio Projects
Course Description:
Application of principles and theories introduced in previously taken graphic arts courses to student-motivated projects. Projects address information gathering, idea generation, concept development, production and distribution. GID 95
About the Course
Graphic Arts Studio Projects provides opportunity for self-motivated, advanced study in the print arts and book arts.This is a year long class that begins every July at the start of Summer session.
The class meets twenty-one hours each quarter (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring). Meeting times are determined each quarter based on input by enrolled participants. Scheduled meetings include critiques, demonstrations, collaborative projects and field trips.
Additional open studio hours managed by volunteers are communicated to enrolled participants. Participants communicate with each other through a Yahoo Group called "Foothill Printmakers". For additional info, Contact Kent Manske.
Register for Classes Here
2008- 2009
CLASSES BY QUARTER
Year Long Classes (July 2008- June 2009)
GID 94: Book Arts Professional Practices GID 94
GID 95: Graphic Arts Studio Projects GID 95
Summer 2008 (July 1- August 24)
Note: Year long classes above begin in Summer.
GID 150X-01: Book Art Activities
Book Arts Activities is taught each summer by Jody Alexander.
This summer's activities learning to bind historical structures.The class meets three consecutive Saturdays, July 12, 119 & 26 from 9 am - 5 pm. GID 150
GID 92: Letterpress Printing
Studio practice in letterpress printing to create limited-edition prints and books.
Introduction to handset type, hand-carved relief plates and photopolymer plates.
Emphasis on technical skills with tools and media, visual communication, and aesthetics of print media. GID 92
Fall 2008 (September 22- December 12)
GID 01: History of Graphic Design
Wednesday, 1:00- 3:50 pm
A study of the development of visual communication in art, graphic design, illustration and popular culture. Emphasis on the role, impact and interpretation of images, symbols, and typography used in informative and persuasive media.
GID 48: Monoprinting
Monday & Wednesday, 6:00- 8:50 pm
Studio experiences in printmaking methods that create one-of-a-kind fine art prints. Emphasis on artistic growth of imagery while developing technical skills with tools, media and techniques.
Winter 2009 (January 5- March 27 )
GID 90: Book Arts I
Monday & Wednesday, 1:30- 4:20 pm
Introduction to the skills and techniques of the book arts.
Students will learn construction and mounting skills for books, boxes and portfolios. Traditional and non-traditional binding formats include stab, accordion, concertina and signature sewing.
Emphasis on form building while exploring content and narrative.
GID 38: Printmaking I
Monday & Wednesday, 6:30- 9:20 pm
Introduction to the printmaking processes of relief, intaglio, screenprinting and monoprinting.
Theory and practice making limited-edition and one-of-a-kind fine art prints.
GID 74: Introduction to Digital Art & Graphics
TBA
Basic instruction using the computer for painting, drawing, image processing, photo composites and typography.
Emphasis on image making and creative problem solving.
Spring 2009 (April 6- June 26 )
GID 52: Illustration & Digital Imaging
TBA
Creation of images to communicate ideas. Traditional and digital media. Emphasis on concept development and communication effectiveness. Development of personal visual vocabulary while learning art making techniques and media, reproduction processes and illustration business practice.
GID 40: Digital Printmaking
TBA
Introduction to the creative, expressive and experimental possibilities of using digital media to produce fine art prints. Emphasis on image creation, printing technologies and printing techniques.
GID 52: Graphic Design Studio III
Online
Continuation of GID 51. Students design and produce a real-world graphic design campaign. Focus on creative solutions that effectively use type, image, and layout. Projects include branding, identity, newsletter, web site, and package design. Creative ideas are explored in sketches, rough layouts, comps, and final presentations. Students learn software skills using Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Macromedia Dreamweaver to complete the graphic design activities in this course.
Register for Classes Here
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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SKILLS CERTIFICATES
Earn "Skills Certificates" after completing a sequence of courses.
Book Arts
Publish and author limited edition and one-of-a-kind books using traditional and digital technologies by completing the 12-unit Book Arts Skills Certificate. This certificate emphasizes the art and craft of making books by hand. You'll explore the book as an art form for communication and personal expression by using both the traditional techniques of letterpress printing and contemporary digital technologies. Coursework draws on the formal, conceptual and technical skills of other arts, including graphic design, photography, illustration and sculpture. You will engage in all phases of books publishing, including conceptual development, design, layout, printing and binding. The skills certificate prepares you to self-publish artists books, work in a print studio, advance your graphic arts skills and expand your professional portfolio.
GID 90: Book Arts 1
GID 91: Book Arts 2
GID 92: Letterpress Printing
Printmaking
Create images and produce printed multiples in a broad range of techniques and media by completing the 12-unit Printmaking Skills Certificate. This certificate emphasizes the art and craft of fine art printmaking for both communication and personal expression. Through hands-on assignments, you'll learn about a variety of print process, including intaglio, relief, screenprinting, monoprinting, paper plate lithography and digital printing. Coursework addresses all aspects of graphic arts production processes from image development to multi-color printing using printing presses. The skills certificate prepares students for developing artistic images, becoming an illustrator, working in a print studio and understanding the mechanics of the printing industry.
GID 38: Printmaking 1
GID 39: Printmaking 2
GID 40: Digital Printmaking
Printmaking Studio
GID 42: Beginning Etching
GID 44: Beginning Relief Printing
GID 46: Beginning Screenprinting
GID 48: Monoprinting
Illustration
Be a visual storyteller and learn to produce visual narratives for advertising, graphic design, book publishing, animation and gaming by completing the 12-unit Illustration Skills Certificate.
This certificate emphasizes the creation of visual images for graphic communication.
You'll learn traditional and digital illustration techniques while developing your ability to generate creative ideas that communicate with expression and clarity.
The skills certificate will prepare you with the technical skills and conceptual skills to render images for the communications industry, popular culture and the art market.
GID 72: Cartooning
GID 74: Introduction to Digital Art & Graphics
GID 76: Illustration & Digital Imaging
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Printmaking
GID 38: Printmaking 1
Introduction to the printmaking processes of relief, intaglio, screenprinting and monoprinting.
Theory and practice making limited-edition and one-of-a-kind fine art prints.
GID 39: Printmaking 2
Continuation of Printmaking 1. Multi-color printing and photographic processes for relief, intaglio, screenprinting and paper plate lithography.
Theory and practice making limited-edition and one-of-a-kind fine art prints.
GID 40: Digital Printmaking
Introduction to the creative, expressive and experimental possibilities of using digital media to produce fine art prints.
Emphasis on image creation, printing technologies and printing techniques.
GID 42: Beginning Etching
Beginning techniques in printmaking, including embossing, monoprinting, chine colle, drypoint, soft ground, line etching, hand coloring, printing and the editioning of plates.
GID 44:Beginning Relief Printing
An introduction to relief printing processes, exploring the basic techniques of embossing, linoleum block, wood block and collagraph printing.
GID 46: Beginning Screenprinting
An introduction to screen printing processes, exploring the basic techniques for making cut stencil designs and drawn stencil images.
GID 48: Monoprinting
Studio experiences in printmaking methods that create one-of-a-kind fine art prints. Emphasis on artistic growth of imagery while developing technical skills with tools, media and techniques.
GID 151: Printmaking Studio
Supervised studio practice in printmaking projects. Application of skills learned in previously taken graphic arts courses.
Book Arts
GID 90: Book Arts 1
Introduction to the skills and techniques of the book arts.
Students will learn construction and mounting skills for books, boxes and portfolios.
Traditional and non-traditional binding formats include stab, accordion, concertina and signature sewing.
Emphasis on form building while exploring content and narrative.
GID 91: Book Arts 2
Continuation of Book Arts 1. Studio experiences in making art that takes book form.
Students will learn strategies for content development; design, layout and typography; and narrative structures, pacing and sequencing.
Reproduction techniques include traditional and digital media including relief printing, stencil printing, transfer printing and commercial printing. Emphasis on content and narrative while advancing book construction skills.
GID 92: Letterpress Printing
Studio practice in letterpress printing to create limited-edition prints and books.
Introduction to handset type, hand-carved relief plates and photopolymer plates.
Emphasis on technical skills with tools and media, visual communication, and aesthetics of print media.
GID 94: Book Arts Professional Practices
Introduction to the professional practices of the book artist and book arts organizations.
Application of strategies to create, critique, exhibit and distribute artist's books.
Participation in community based learning through the organization and implementation of book art events and activities.
GID 95: Graphic Arts Studio Projects
Application of principles and theories introduced in previously taken graphic arts courses to student-motivated projects. Projects address information gathering, idea generation, concept development, production and distribution.
GID 150: Book Art Activities
Activities in the book arts. Specific topics to be determined by the instructor.
Illustration
GID 72: Cartooning
Fundamentals of drawing cartoons for mass communication with a variety of styles and techniques.
Emphasis on skills, concepts, humor, and design. Exploration of career opportunities.
GID 74: Introduction to Digital Art & Graphics
Basic instruction using the computer for painting, drawing, image processing, photo composites and typography.
Emphasis on image making and creative problem solving.
GID 76: Illustration & Digital Imaging
Creation of images to communicate ideas. Traditional and digital media.
Emphasis on concept development and communication effectiveness.
Development of personal visual vocabulary while learning art making techniques and media, reproduction processes and illustration business practice.
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FACILITIES
Print & Book Arts Studios
Studio 1801 (front room)
Studio 1801 is a professional design studio environment serving students in Design, Illustration, Printmaking and the Book Arts.
Exhibitions of student and professional work fill the walls.
Studio 1801 features 30 high-end drawing tables, 3 color-calibrated digital workstations and a multimedia projection and sound system.
- 3 fully-loaded Macintosh CPU's with large color calibrated monitors and Wacom drawing tablets
- desktop inkjet printer
- 52" wide inkjet printer
- color viewing station
- spiral binding systems
- dry mount press
- matt cutters
- paper cutter
- board cutter
- studio photography lights & backdrops
- copy stand
Studio 1802 (back room)
Studio 1802 features equipment and presses for letterpress printing and relief printing, etching & intaglio printing, and screenprinting. The studio's darkroom is set up for photographic processes including photo etching, photopolymer plates and photographic screenprinting. An exterior courtyard provides additional working space with washout units and airbrush hood. Studio 1802 prides itself in teaching and using non-toxic printmaking processes.
- sink room with safe lights
- etching presses (2)
- Reprex flatbed letterpress
- Old Reliable platen jobber press
- Kelsey Excelsior platen press
- Hand-operated press
- extensive collection of metal & wood type
- plate cutter
- screenprinting exposure unit
- 30 + screenprinting frames & squeegees
- photopolymer plate exposure unit
- light table
Gated Courtyard
- exterior work area with glass table tops
- utility sink
- screenprinting washout station
- spray booth
Digital Media Labs
IDEA Center
The IDEA Center is Foothill’s digital media lab serving students in art, graphic design, photography, music and video.
Thirty high- end Apple workstations, scanners and printers are available to students seven days a week.
IDEA Center
Krause Center for Innovation
The KCI has both Macintosh and PC digital media studios used by many disciplines throughout the campus. Open labs are available when classes are not in session.
KCI
Both the IDEA Center and the KCI license the Adobe Creative Suite. The Adobe Creative Suited is cross platform (Mac & PC) allowing your to
work between labs and at home without problems opening files. See "Using Fonts" below.
SOFTWARE INSTRUCTION
Adobe CS Help & Tutorials
Software Help - Live Docs
Adobe help manuals can be accessed under the Help menu in any CS application.
The same documents called "LiveDocs" are available free online. Adobe Help Resourse Center
Instructional Videos
Adobe instructional videos are available CS3 Video Workshop
Using Fonts
Font Book
At the Idea Center we have split our fonts into three collections.
Using Font Book, you can turn these collections "On" or "Off".
When "On", you can access these fonts in CS applications.
-
Apple Fonts, fonts that came with System 10 installation
- CS Fonts, fonts that came with the CS intallation
- Design Fonts, fonts licenced by the IDEA Center
Avoiding Font Conficts
Font conflicts will occur if you use fonts on one computer that are not installed on another computer.
To avoid conflicts between labs, and between labs and your home computer, use only the OpenType fonts that come with the Creative Suite software.
Font Links Adobe Creative Suite
Open Type
CS3 Fonts
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SAFETY IN THE STUDIO
Material Safety Data Sheets for materials we use in Studio 1801 & 1802 at Foothill College
MSDS sheets
The following manual is produced by Kent Manske at Foothill College.
It is a collection of handouts to assist in the safe handling of tools and materials in the Foothill College printmaking studios.
The manual serves as a supplement to lectures and demonstrations and is not to be considered definitive or complete by itself.
Faculty who use the manual as a teaching tool are ultimately responsible for covering the safe handling of materials with their students.
Printmaking: Safety & Procedure Manual
Also see Safety Links below
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FACULTY
Kent Manske, Cindy Lee, Jody Alexander, Mike Day, Debbie Kogan
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Faculty and students at Foothill College are active participants in the local arts community.
Here are some events we sponsor and participate in.
Book Arts Jam
Foothill College co-sponsors the annual "Book Arts Jam" with the Bay Area Book Artists.
This lively annual event draws 500 people to celebrate the book arts.
Book Arts Jam
Monotype Marathon
Foothill College conducts printmaking workshops to benefit the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Arts Annual event.
The Monotype Marathon is a weekend of workshops, held in professional printmaking studios throughout the Bay Area.
Faculty and students help artists produce a number of prints, the best of which are exhibited at the ICA.
At the end of the show, the prints are auctioned. All proceeds benefit the ICA.
Foothill College is proud to support the ICA in this wonderful event.
SJICA
Bay Area Book Artists
Foothill College offers GID 94: Book Arts Professional Practices is a student-run class initiated to serve the artistic needs and develop the professional skills of the extended community of Bay Area book artists, including the active members of Bay Area Book Artists (BABA), an ongoing 11-year old informal association of book artists which welcomes new members.
The class goes from July through June each year. As an annual project, BABA co-sponsors the annual Book Arts Jam with Foothill College.
BABA
The Eurphrat Museum of Art
Foothill College faculty have assisted curating several exhibitions at the Eurphrat Museum of Art located at DeAnza College.
Exhibitions have included: "A Good Read: Selections from the Book Arts", 1999, "Shared Passions, 2005 and "Moving Cultures", 2007.
Faculty have also participated in Fundraising events for the Eurphrat Museum.
Eurphrat Museum of Art
WORKS San Jose
Foothill College faculty and students have a long history of membership and participation in activities sponsored by WORKS.
In Spring of 2007, thirty-two artists in two printmaking courses worked collaboratively to create forty mixed media monoprints for the exhibition "Body of Works".
The exhibition ran from April 13 to May 10, 2007.
WORKS San Jose
Pacific Art League
Foothill faculty member Kent Manske has jurored several exhibitions for the Pacific Art League.
He recently jurored "Printmakers at the Pacific Art League" in June 2007.
Pacific Art League
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LINKS
Art Activism
Collections
Center for the Center for Political Graphics
WPA Posters
Another Poster for Peace
Peace Not War Gallery
Revolutionary Tides: The Art of the Political Poster 1914- 1989
Organizations +
Adbusters
Think Again
Guerilla Girls
rtmark
Dyke Action Machine
Citizen Designer, Interview with Steve Heller
Social Design Notes
Propaganda Remix Project
Illegal Art
Anti Advertising Agency
Activist Artists
Doug Minkler
Shepard Fairey
Robbie Conal
Book Arts
Bay Area Organizations
Bay Area Book Artists
San Francisco Center for the Book
Pacific Center for the Book Arts
Hand Book Binders of California
Sites
The Book Arts Web
The Book Art Movement 1974- 1999
Bonefolder: e-journal
Reversing Vandalism
Booksellers
Printed Matter
Vamp & Tramp (Califia Books)
Careers
Career Guide
Artists Space online
Design
Design, Writing, Research
Digital Art
Digital Art Museum
Digital Atelier
Zone Zero
Exhibiting Art
Framing & Matting Artwork
Matting your Artwork
Illustration
Illustrators Partnership for America
Society of Illustrators
National Museum of American Illustration
The ispot
Letterpress
Sites
Introduction to Letterpress in the 21st Century
Briar Press: Online Museum of Letterpress
Book Arts Web: Letterpress Links
Letterpress video from TypeCulture
Five Roses Press
Design Sponge
Photopolymer Plates
Box Car Press
Ink
Van Son Ink
Broadsides
National Library of Scotland
Library of Congress
Hatch Show Print
Letterpress Shops
Arion Press
Revolution Art & Design
Foothill Studio 1801 Presses
Kelsey Printer Guide
Tool Glossary
List Serves & Blogs
Bielerpress
PPLetterpress
Type Foundry Blog
Manifestos
Bruce Mau: An incomplete manifesto for growth
DADA Manifesto,tristan tzara, 1918
First Things First 2000
Paper
Paper Basics
About Paper
Paper Glossary
Paper Mill History
Hiromi Paper
Legion Paper
Kelly Paper
Printmaking
Sites
Printmaking Links
Auchenbach Center for the Graphic Arts
What is a Print?, MOMA
California Society of Printmakers
Stenciling
Printmaking on the Edge- book info
Greenart.info
Printworks Magazine
Commercial Printing
International Paper: Knowledge Center
Digital Printmaking
Digital Atelier
Graphic Arts Reproduction
Scanning & Halftones
Presses & Studios
Bay Area
Aurabora Press
Crown Point Press
Kala Art Institute
Magnolia Editions
Paulson Press
Tinhorn Press
Trillium Press
Other
Gemini G.E.L
Universal Limited Arts Editions
Tandem Press
Tamarind Institute
Ken Tyler Studios
Cannonball Press
Print Organizations
American Print Alliance
Southern Graphics Council
SGC 2007 Conference in Kansas City
Seattle Print Arts
Print Exhibitions
Semographics 2006
Polyester Plate Lithography
Instructions from Boise State University
Instructions from Washington State University- Vancouver
Instructions from Washington State University- Pullman
Plates from Reniassiance Graphics
Safety in the Arts
Health Hazards in the Arts, RIT
Safety in the Arts, City of Tucson
Solvents Used by Artists
Using Art Materials Safely
The Healthy Safe Studio
Screenprinting
Speedball Screenprinting Instructions.pdf
Speedball
Typography
Concrete Poetry- Wikipedia
Typeractive: Letterscapes by Peter Cho
Arabic Typograpy
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