Printmaking Workshop
Grafikwerkstatt Dresden
Fine Art Printmaking Workshop
Founded in 1958 by Dresden artists and originally called the »Goethe Allee Printing Workshop«, from 1979 onwards known as the »Berliner Straße«, today´s Grafikwerkstatt Dresden has been based since 1997 in the basement of the former Pentacon camera factory, which also houses the »Technical Collections Dresden«.
The Grafikwerkstatt is a meeting place for contemporary Dresden artists and a sphere where artistic collaboration can take form. We have a whole range of original fine art printing techniques for you to use, whether you choose to print yourself or have the work carried out by our trained and experienced printers.
Individual Experiments
If you wish to probe deeper into the expressive possibilities of a specific printing technique, the various work spaces for intaglio, lithography, relief printing, hand composed typesetting, an etching bath, a photographic darkroom, and a space for bookbinding work, can all be rented. If you wish, one of our experienced printers can be on hand with helpful advice.
Working with a printer
When we are carrying out your work we value your presence most highly. This means that important corrections and experiments, an individual handling of the printed form, and tests on different papers can be made at the same time. Multiple coloured artists proofs are printed wet in wet, so that the finished result is visible when the proofs are made. This guarantees that the completed edition corresponds to your specifications.
Intaglio Printing
Intaglio Prints can be made with the most various techniques and methods. Etching grounds, different engraving tools, burners and chemicals are available for working individually on the plates are on hand. We can provide zinc or copper cut to your required size. In a separate etching room you can work undisturbed on your own plates or we can etch them following your directions. The acid baths are equipped with special extraction fans. Printing is done on RICHARDSSONS-copper printing presses.
Maximum paper format is 99 x 140 cm.
Relief Printing
You can make wooden block, linocut, other relief printing methods and hand typesetting here. All the materials, tools and a rich selection of wooden and lead block lettering are on hand. Formats up to 50 x 78 cm can be made on a GRAFIX proofprinting press and for paper sizes up to 70 x 100 cm a KRAUSE-toggle lever press for hand printing can be used.
Lithography
Using thin washes of lithographic ink is our special area. Lithographic crayon, transfer printing, lithographic engraving, transfer copies and other means are also possible. Already ground stones measuring 84 x 118 cm are on hand. Specially prepared stone fragments might inspire you. To acquaint yourself with the lithographic chalk slate or to save on grinding costs, you might prefer to grind the stones yourself. There are adequate quiet areas to draw and work creatively on the stones throughout the whole work-shop. Maximum paper format is 99 x 140 cm. Handprints are made on KRAUSE-handcrank presses and for very large editions a FABER & SCHLEICHER-automated lithographic press can be used.
Algraphy
The most important difference to stone lithography is that the original motif is not drawn in reverse. Using lithographic ink and crayon you draw directly onto a corn-surfaced aluminiumplate. You can work in various ways, even using thin washes of ink. The plates are as easy to transport as paper and can even be taken out of doors. We use a KORREX-proofprinting press. During the printing you can manipulate how the plate, the colour and for paper is used. Algraphy is comparatively inexpensive as a basis complex stone lithographs, etchings and relief prints. Maximum paper format 79 x 107 cm, under circumstances upto 100 x 140 cm.
Offset
Most characteristic is the use of matt transparent sheets. You can work on these with many materials, ink, crayon, and special folio pens. You can make combinations of photographic motifs, typographic film, and raster film, use the four-colour system and duplex films as well. With collages and direct transfers of surface structures from various materials, you can get fascinating results. The design can be developed on the illuminated frame. During the printing you direct the way we handle the plate, the colour and the paper. Offset prints can be used as a comparatively inexpensive basis for complex stone lithos, etchings and reliefprints. We use a KORREX-proof printing press. Maximum paper format 79 x 107 cm, under circumstances up to 100 x 140 cm.
Photography
The small darkroom is equipped with developing trays. A 40 x 50 cm process camera; 50 x 60 cm contact films,an enlargement camera with a film holder accomodating up to 20 x 30 cm. Here you can compose conventional films for use in print. On top of this you can make your own experiments.
Design
If excellent typographic design is important to you or you want to create your own original hand printed artists books, catalogues, posters and invitations you might also choose to work on a MAC. Bookmaking tools: We have an embossing press 27 x 36 (56) cm, a folding and a perforating machine 67 cm, a cutting machine 62 cm and a cardboard cutter 120 cm, a passepartout cutting machine up to 100 cm, and a wire binding machine.
Paper Store
We have a wide variety of deckle-edged paper, various printing and drawing papers, passepartout cartridge and many other specialist materials in our storeroom.
Guest Atelier: We have lodging facilities adjacent to the work-shop in a small room, with toilet, shower, a small kitchen and a separate entrance. Close at hand there are ample shopping and dining facilities, and trams to the nearby town centre just a minute away.
Courses: If you´d like to print for yourself you might like to ring up and ask about our inexpensive individual or group courses.
Children: If you´d like to bring your children along for a while, we have a small childrens play area with lots of paper.
Prices
We make exact and binding estimates per piece beforehand. If you work on your own the cost is calculated per hour. Intaglio, lithography, relief printing, hand typesetting cost 1 €/h, if needed the first week under our guidance costs 2 €/h. The etching bath and the darkroom cost 2,50 €/h. Included in all cases is the cost of machines, tools, chemicals, sand, drawing material, cleaning rags etc., but excluding printing plates and paper.
The Printers
Relief printing/Hand typesetting: Udo Haufe; Intaglio/Algraphy: Torsten Leupold;
Lithography/Algraphy: Peter Stephan.
Opening Times
The workshop is open from Monday till Friday between 8 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Parking space can be found in the central courtyard.
And at 10 o'clock everyday you´re very welcome at the Grafikwerkstatt tea break.
