Classes

GEE’S BEND INSPIRED COLLAGE

Cutting squares out of misprints and print scraps from her own vibrant work, printmaker and book artist Sarah Matthews pays tribute to the quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Hailed as “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced,” the quilting tradition of Gee's Bend was created by a group of Black women and their ancestors. Sarah makes the half log cabin Inspired by Lucy Pettway's 1950's "Housetop" quilt pattern, but as a paper artist, she of course makes her quilt blocks out of paper.

Collagraph: Printing Without a Press

Collagraphy is a printmaking process in which textured materials are collaged onto a rigid printing plate. When ink is applied to various textures, you'll see an array of interesting tones and shapes on your prints. You can make your own collagraphs out of items you find around the house. Book artist and printmaker Sarah Matthews shows you how to make different plates using cardboard, hot glue, craft foam, and string. Then you'll learn Sarah's monoprinting technique with a brayer and Gelli plate to create beautiful prints and unique papers with your handmade stamps. This class is great for beginners and kids, and you'll start looking at everything in your house as potential material for future collagraphs.

Design! Carve! Print! Make a Custom Stamp from iPad to Paper

If you've ever hesitated to try making a custom stamp due to any insecurities about your drawing skills, this is the class for you. Printmaker and book artist Sarah Matthews shows you her method of easily turning any photo into a sketch with Procreate on the iPad. You'll then learn how to transfer that sketch to a carving block, carve out your stamp, and print. To create stamped art with sections of different colors, Sarah will also teach you how to print in layers. With all the skills that Sarah shares here, the only limit to your custom stamp art is your imagination.

Carve & Print: Words and Expressions

Known for her vibrant use of color and joyful, expressive printmaking, artist Sarah Matthews often uses words in her work. In this class she demonstrates how to use your own handwriting as well as tracing and transferring found text for making your own custom stamps. Sarah demonstrates how these techniques can be used to create wrapping paper, gift bags, and gift boxes. If you can carve words, you can carve anything. This class is fabulous for someone who's never carved before - if you're going to start somewhere, start with words.

Carve and Print a Multi-Block Relief Portrait

Turn a photograph of someone you admire into a vibrant, multi-colored work of art. In this inspiring class, printmaker and artist Sarah Matthews shows you how to create a multi-block relief portrait, using a photo as the foundation for your design. You'll learn how to transfer your image onto a carving block, carve fine details, and then cut the block into multiple sections to print in a variety of colors—like assembling a puzzle with depth and dimension. Sarah features American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou in her portrait, offering a meaningful example of how you can celebrate someone who inspires you.

Three Ways to Stitch a Pamphlet Book

The pamphlet is a deceptively simple bookbinding structure that’s easy to transform into something fabulous. Printmaker and book artist Sarah Matthews demonstrates three ways to bind a basic pamphlet book: a seven-hole pamphlet stitch, the link stitch, and her favorite - the dot dash stitch. Use these approachable techniques to make books, journals, zines, and more, and play with specialized tools like the bone folder, a Japanese screw punch, and waxed linen thread.

Stamps! Prints! Books! - A Daily Practice

Artist, printmaker, and educator Sarah Matthews demonstrates her vibrant signature style of layering stamps to create graphic prints. Throughout each week of this daily practice, you’ll design, carve, and print your own stamps. Then, you’ll bind the resulting prints into four different book structures. The month is rounded out with additional techniques that you can use in any book art project. Sarah’s playful, low-pressure style and dynamic approach to color creates deceptively complex designs that radiate energy.