**February Maker’s Series** Linocut Printmaking with Sam Swap of Third Cat Press

Register now online! Click here to sign up for this workshop. 

What happens when you carve, ink, and press it yourself? Stop wondering- Sam Swap has got you covered! In this 3 hour workshop, you’ll be learning the art of linocut printmaking from beginning to end. We’ll be creating one hand carved linocut stamp and taking home 5 original prints! Perfect for starting your mini gallery at home. You can either draw your design during the class, but we recommend you bring a few ideas with you that your incredibly experienced instructor can you refine for your unique stamp.

What to Expect:
🔹 Carve, ink, and press your very own linocut stamp!
🔹 Learn fundamental carving techniques in a cozy, welcoming studio
🔹 Choose your own ink colors & design
🔹 Receive step-by-step guidance from an experienced instructor
🔹 Take your pieces home with you same day!

What’s Included:
✅ All carving materials, tools, and supplies to use within workshop
✅ Personalized instruction and creative support

Date:

February 21st 2:00-5:00 PM

What’s linocut printmaking you may ask? Great question!

A linocut is a type of printmaking where you carve a design into a sheet of linoleum using cutting tools. The parts you don’t carve are what will print. Ink is rolled onto the raised surface, and the design is then pressed onto paper or fabric by hand or with a printing press. Because linoleum has a smooth, slightly soft surface, it holds ink well and produces clean, bold prints.

Linoleum was originally developed in the 1860s as a flooring material, but artists began using it for printmaking in the early 1900s. It’s easier to carve than wood and has no grain, so artists can cut in any direction. This makes linocut a flexible, approachable medium that’s great for both beginners and experienced artists.

A bit about Samuel Swap, your instructor:

You’ll be led through the entire process by Sam Swap, a Connecticut based artist who just recently completed a residency on the New England Trail. Swap is an illustrator, printmaker, and educator from Connecticut. Born and raised in Ivoryton and now living in Middletown, Sam has lived in the Connecticut River watershed his whole life. Sam aims to shed light on the forgotten faces of nature, our native species, and how we as people interact with the natural world around us.

After graduating from the Hartford Art School, he began teaching at Old Lyme’s Florence Griswold Museum and discovered the beautiful naturalist art of the Old Lyme art colony and surrounding artists. Taken aback by their beautiful depictions of the CT landscape, Sam dove headfirst into nature inspired landscape art. Additionally, inspired by the many illustrators of his childhood like Bill Watterson, Martin Hanford and James McCaulay, Sam started his own publishing studio called Third Cat Press (aptly named after his beloved cat Chatrois) to self-publish his own children’s books and wood engraving prints. In 2024, he published The ABCs of BATs, an alliterative adventure of nocturnal navigators, to highlight the vast biodiversity amongst his favorite mammals.

Sam’s website and work can be found here.

Register now online! Click here to sign up for this workshop.