Summer 2024 Classes
Course registration is open for the RisoLAB’s Summer in-person and online classes as well as Open Lab Access! Our semester begins on June 3rd and runs through August 18th. You can find course descriptions and dates below.
Students who completed an online RisoLAB Remote Series course over the past year are eligible to sign up for our two session, eight hour follow up Bootcamp Training workshop, which will cover the technical skills involved in hands on Risograph printing. This workshops includes six weeks of RisoLAB access which can be utilized be applied to the first or second half of the Summer or Fall 2024 semesters.
You can sign up by following the direct links on each course description, or access all of our Visual Narrative and RisoLAB courses by following the link below:
Risograph Printing for Drawing and Painting
- Course Number: VNC-2243-A
- Instructor: Andrew Alexander
- Schedule: Sat, Jun. 8 - Aug. 17, 2024
- Hours: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
- Details: 10 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
Drawing is a universal visual language. In this course students will create art using Risograph printing by way of hand-drawn images to create a new expanse of possibilities from their work. Both new and old work will be used to extensively explore the palettes and textures, and the capabilities of the Risograph process. Experimentation with a variety of tools and techniques to develop a language of mark-making will be encouraged. Students will use the Risograph printing process to make new work and reproduce previously created projects. A new practice will emerge from the discoveries that occur during this process. In-class experiments, discussions, assignments and critiques will culminate in a handmade zine project.
NOTE: This course is held on campus at SVA.
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Page / Text / Image: Discussions on Art Books
- Course Number: VNC-2361-OL
- Instructor: Aidan Fitzgerald, Artist, Printer, Poet; Co-Founder, Cold Cube Press
- Schedule: Thurs., Jun. 13 - July 18
- Hours: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
- Details: 5 sessions; 1.5 CEUs $225
- Studio Fee: 0
Course Info
The practice of publishing art books-from the perspectives of artist, publisher and audience-is examined in this course . Weekly readings will be assigned that focus on the practice and process of publishing, as well as the ideas underpinning the history of publishing various types of books. Topics to be addressed include contemporary book design, the process and purpose of photobooks in contemporary photographic practice, and “What makes a book an art book?” The course is geared toward artists and publishers who have already started their publishing practice, or those who are interested in starting a publication project. Open to all levels.
NOTE: This course is fully online and offered through a combination of regularly scheduled sessions during the listed course hours, as well as asynchronous material that may include prerecorded lectures and media, and interactive discussions.
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Fall RisoLAB Access-Half Semester (Sept. 18 – Oct. 29)
- Course Number: VND-ACCESS-A7
- Instructor:
- Schedule: Sept. 18 - Oct. 29
- Hours: Availability based on RisoLAB Schedule
- Details:
- Studio Fee: $225
Course Info
The RisoLAB is dedicated to the philosophy and practice of independent self-publishing. It provides the opportunity for creative expression, offers an understanding of the print production process, and encourages collaboration in the production and publishing of student projects. RisoLAB access includes use of the Risograph duplicators for self-publishing and printing, as well as small-format bindery tools, paper trimming equipment, inks, tools and resources, along with tech support. Students who wish to work in the Lab must have successfully completed a full semester RisoLAB class or the online course with follow up in-person bootcamp training.
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Mini Comics: From the Page to Production
- Course Number: VNC-2362-A
- Instructor: Wren McDonald, Illustrator, Cartoonist
- Schedule: Mon., Feb. 5 - Apr. 15, 2024
- Hours: 6:00pm - 9:30pm
- Details: 10 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
The goal of this course is to create Risograph-printed, narrative-based minicomics from start to finish. Students will experiment with writing and drawing short comics, and learn to use Risograph to print and assemble them. Throughout the course they will be challenged to thrive within the limitations of this printing process. Students will also learn to analyze comics not only through written and drawn techniques, but also through color, physicality and printing technique. This course is for students who are interested in creating comics, as well as producing thoughtful, tangible art objects. Students will complete multiple zines; the final project will be a print run of a multicolor, Risograph-printed minicomic.
NOTE: This course is held on-site at SVA and includes access to the RisoLAB.
Sign UpBootcamp Training Workshops
RisoLAB Boot Camp Intensive (Jun. 29-30)
- Course Number: VNC-2613-B
- Instructor: Aidan Fitzgerald
- Schedule: Sat, Sun Jun. 29 - 30
- Hours: 2:00 PM-6:00 PM
- Details: 2 sessions/$150
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
In this intensive, students will develop a tool kit of Risograph printing skills. The course is designed for students who have completed an online RisoLAB, and is also open to anyone who previously completed an in-person RisoLAB course. The basics of operating the Risograph will be covered, including how to change drums, proper registration, manipulating printing speeds and technical settings to avoid printing mistakes. Through print demonstrations and hands-on exercises, students will gain a working knowledge of how to achieve the best result in translating their digital and analog designs into vivid and striking Risograph prints. Upon completion of this boot camp, students will have access to the RisoLAB facilities for a scheduled six-week period in order to print their Risograph projects.
Prerequisite: Students must have completed an online RisoLAB course or a course in Risograph printing at the RisoLAB.
This prerequisite may be waived if a prospective student can demonstrate prior relevant printmaking and/or Riso printing experience.
Open Lab Access
Summer 2024 RisoLAB Access (Full Semester-Jun. 3-Aug 18)
- Course Number: VND-ACCESS
- Instructor:
- Schedule: Jun. 3 - Aug 18
- Hours: Availability based on RisoLAB Schedule
- Details:
- Studio Fee: $350
Course Info
The RisoLAB is dedicated to the philosophy and practice of independent self-publishing. It provides the opportunity for creative expression, offers an understanding of the print production process, and encourages collaboration in the production and publishing of student projects. RisoLAB access includes use of the Risograph duplicators for self-publishing and printing, as well as small-format bindery tools, paper trimming equipment, inks, tools and resources, along with tech support. Students who wish to work in the Lab must have successfully completed a full semester RisoLAB class or the online course with follow up in-person bootcamp training.
Sign Up
Summer 2024 RisoLAB Access-Half Semester (Jun. 3-July 14)
- Course Number: VND-ACCESS-A7
- Instructor:
- Schedule: June 3-July 14
- Hours: Availability based on RisoLAB Schedule
- Details:
- Studio Fee: $225
Course Info
The RisoLAB is dedicated to the philosophy and practice of independent self-publishing. It provides the opportunity for creative expression, offers an understanding of the print production process, and encourages collaboration in the production and publishing of student projects. RisoLAB access includes use of the Risograph duplicators for self-publishing and printing, as well as small-format bindery tools, paper trimming equipment, inks, tools and resources, along with tech support. Students who wish to work in the Lab must have successfully completed RisoLAB’s Risograph training or a Risograph course.
Sign Up
Summer 2024 RisoLAB Access-Half Semester (Jul. 8 – Aug. 18)
- Course Number: VND-ACCESS-B7
- Instructor:
- Schedule: July 8 - August 18
- Hours: Availability based on RisoLAB Schedule
- Details:
- Studio Fee: $225
Course Info
The RisoLAB is dedicated to the philosophy and practice of independent self-publishing. It provides the opportunity for creative expression, offers an understanding of the print production process, and encourages collaboration in the production and publishing of student projects. RisoLAB access includes use of the Risograph duplicators for self-publishing and printing, as well as small-format bindery tools, paper trimming equipment, inks, tools and resources, along with tech support. Students who wish to work in the Lab must have successfully completed RisoLAB’s Risograph training or a Risograph course.
Sign Up
In-Progress Courses
Advanced Riso Printing
- Course Number: VNC-2242-A
- Instructor: Aidan Fitzgerald, Artist, Designer, Publisher; Co-Founder, Cold Cube Press
- Schedule: Weds., Jun. 5 - Aug. 15
- Hours: 6:00-9:30
- Details: 10 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
In this course students will bring their Risograph printing skills to the next level. We will cover how to build custom three- and four-color Riso printing profiles, how to use the physical limitations of the printer to our advantage and how to set up files to avoid printing errors. A deep dive on book layout and production guidelines for Risograph publishing will be included. The course follows a broad trajectory: There will be a few home assignments early on, to get students up to speed on the specifics of Riso printing; then students will develop their own projects and put them into production.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of a Risograph course or open lab.
NOTE: This course is held on-site at SVA and includes access to the RisoLAB.
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RISO Printing: An Introduction
- Course Number: VNC-1577-A
- Instructor: Wren McDonald, Illustrator, Cartoonist
- Schedule: Thurs., Jun. 6 - Aug. 15
- Hours: 6:00pm - 9:30 pm
- Details: 10 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
Risograph Duplicator printing technology combines the vibrant spot colors of silkscreen, the high resolution and speedy mass production of offset lithography, and the user-friendly automation of an advanced color copier. These compact machines can function as a print shop in a box. Their ease of use, print quality and low overhead costs make them extremely popular among independent publishers, zine makers, graphic designers, photographers, and others who are interested in making quick and vibrant editions on paper. In this course, students will be given a thorough overview of Risograph printing and its range of printing techniques. Each student will generate a portfolio of various Risograph projects in the form of print editions, zines, cards, promotional fliers, and other printed matter.
NOTE: This course is held on-site at SVA and includes access to the RisoLAB.
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RISO Printing: Illustrative Prints
- Course Number: VNC-2385-A
- Instructor: Wren McDonald, Illustrator, Cartoonist
- Schedule: Tues., Jun. 4 - Aug. 6
- Hours: 6:00pm - 9:30pm
- Details: 10 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
This course explores many ways that Risograph printing can be used to create vibrant, illustrative prints. We will examine printing techniques and apply them to various illustration prompts to create a striking portfolio of work. There will be a strong focus on Risograph operations, including changing drums, manipulating print settings, color registration and how to achieve the best possible print results. Analog and digital demos will be covered: printing techniques, Adobe Photoshop file setup, zine basics, and more. Students will discover how to use a variety of palettes, textures and paper to get the best results for this type of work. The formal and conceptual factors to make a successful illustration, and how to best apply them to the medium, will be addressed. Open to students at all levels.
NOTE: This course is held on-site at SVA and includes access to the RisoLAB.
RisoLAB Remote Series: Introduction to Riso Print Design (Summer 2024)
- Course Number: VNC-1578-OL
- Instructor: Aidan Fitzgerald, Artist, Printer, Poet; Co-Founder, Cold Cube Press
- Schedule: Mon., Jun. 4 - Jul. 9
- Hours: 7:00pm – 9:00pm (EST)
- Details: 6 sessions; 2 CEUs $225
- Studio Fee: 0
Course Info
Through online lectures and slide presentations, students will receive technical training in print design for the Risograph process. Feedback and guidance will be given through group and individual critiques. An overview of Risograph printing and its range of printing techniques, as well as examples of Risograph and printmaking-based work will be included. Each student will prepare a portfolio of various Risograph projects in the form of print editions, zines, cards, promotional fliers, and other projects formatted for the Riso print process as well as presentation in digital form.
NOTE: All students with an active registration in this online course will be given free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud. This course is fully online and offered through synchronous sessions during the listed course hours. After completing this course, students will be eligible to sign up for a RisoLAB Boot Camp Intensive – an in-person Risograph training workshop – that allows access to our facilities to print their Riso projects developed in this course.
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RISO Printing: Zines and Small Publishing
- Course Number: VNC-2239-A
- Instructor: Panayiotis Terzis, Artist, Illustrator, Printer, Publisher
- Schedule: Mon., Jun. 3 - Jul. 29
- Hours: 6:00pm - 10:00 pm
- Details: 9 sessions / 3.5 CEUs $525
- Studio Fee: $175
Course Info
The past few years have seen an explosion of zines and small publishing among artists, designers and photographers. Even the most digitally based creative professionals are embracing the zine as a vital tool for experimentation, collaboration and communication. The Risograph Duplicator has emerged as a medium of choice for zine publishing. This technology fuses analog and digital printing techniques, combining the vibrant colors of silkscreen printing with the speed and automation of digital and offset printing. In this course students will be given a rigorous introduction to this medium and how to use it effectively as a tool for self-publishing. We will explore color, form, layout and pagination, and how to communicate ideas in book form. Class assignments will act as conceptual sparks to point students in new directions. In addition, collaborative projects among classmates will foster creative cross-pollination. Students will complete several zine editions, and discover that producing a simple pamphlet in an edition can be an empowering act—a way of multiplying one’s vision and spreading it out into the world.
NOTE: This course is held on-site at SVA and includes access to the RisoLAB.
