Block Printing for Beginners

Use lino to carve your very own block and use repetition, rotation and overlaying to print patterns onto paper or fabric in this one-day printing workshop.

In this fun four-hour workshop you will learn the basic techniques of block printing, including how to carve a block safely and effectively, about different inks and how to ink up a plate, and how to create a repeat pattern to produce a handprinted pattern on paper and/or fabric. Absolutely no experience is required and all materials and equipment is provided for you.

Through demonstration and guidance, you will learn about positive and negative space and explore how to create a repeat pattern. You’ll experiment with printing techniques and, with guidance, print onto paper and/or fabric using repeat, overlaying and rotation. There will be fabric and fabric items to print on such as tote bags, and a range of papers.

Tutor Jo Shearer is an artist and art educator living and working in Leicestershire. Her belief is that art is for everyone. It is another language for expressing and communicating our experiences, thoughts and emotions which often reflect the world around us and how we fit into it. Art can demonstrate a tremendous level of skill and be aesthetically pleasing; however, the greatest strength is in its capacity to express and unite people. Jo studied Visual BA (Hons) Arts and English Literature and a PGCE in secondary art. She taught in schools and colleges in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire for over 10 years. After leaving mainstream education she continued her love of teaching through tutoring and went on to develop workshops like this one. She enjoys the freedom to work in a variety of media and has an ever-increasing love for print. She enjoys nurturing creativity and developing individuals' skills to build confidence in their own work as well as evoking a sense of calm and release of emotions through the process of making. Her personal work explores the spaces that we inhabit, the collection of experiences and emotions that connect us to a place and the inherent beauty of the natural world in all its forms.

This one-day workshop will start at 10am and end at 2.30pm, with a 30 minute break for lunch. Our café will be open or you are welcome to bring your own refreshments.

All materials and equipment will be provided. Please dress in old clothes and/or bring an apron as printing can get messy!

Participants must be aged 14+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult at all times.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome – just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email arts-centre@le.ac.uk, pop in or call 0116 252 2455, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road.

The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us (near De Montfort Hall).