Making Image Transfer Collages

Image transfers have a beautiful, ethereal quality and are extremely versatile in their application. Source images can be combinations of anything from photos, magazines and other collected materials to drawings or basically anything you can print from the internet. Explore the materials and methods used to make successful image transfers, combining collage, painting and drawing to create layered images. Learn several photo transfer techniques (including solvent, acrylic and transparency alcohol transfers) and how they work with different surface materials, such as paper, wood, canvas, etc. Seamlessly combine your source images into a painting or collage by knowing which image transfer technique is right for any composition.

As a class we will consider the process of image replication in relation to memory, through discussion and looking at the work of contemporary and historical artists. Participants will leave with the knowledge to continue experimenting with image transfers as well as a conceptual framework to explore artistic notions of memory. 

January 22 - February 12, 2019 at the Berlin Drawing Room

Details and Registration

Keegan Luttrell performing at Display, Berlin

Keegan Luttrell, artist-instructor

Linocut: The Underdog of Printmaking

There are a lot of ways to make a print. Some people are seduced by the glossy speed of pulling an ink-charged squeegee across a silkscreen. Others prefer tooling away at sheets of copper destined for an acid bath. I, for one, have always been a sucker for the linocut.

Bold, graphic, and immediate, linocut is the underdog of the printmaking world. First used extensively by the German Expressionist group Die Brücke in the early 20th century, this utilitarian technique quickly became a popular and widespread practice with artists and designers. 

Linoleum was cheap, easy to find, and easier to carve. It was initially unrecognized as a refined method of print production—and all the better. Without the burdens of history and style, artists could whittle whatever they wanted out of the smooth, industrially-produced surfaces, from ex libris bookplates to posters advertising political dissent. 

In time, linocut was championed by the likes of Picasso and Matisse, who contributed wonderful additions (or should we editions) to this burgeoning art form. However, it always retained its status as an everyday way to publish texts and artist’s books, produce bespoke fabric patterns, and experiment with visualizing one's ideas.

Below I’ve included some reproductions of linocut prints made by the Polish artist Karol Hiller and others by Josef Čapek, the Czech painter, poet, and inventor of the word “robot.” I find these works especially compelling for their linear clarity and dynamic compositions. Although most are printed with a single layer of ink, like black, red, or blue, the last one has been augmented with hand-coloring to brighten the image. 

Here at the Berlin Drawing Room, we are excited to tap into the unique, creative energy offered by linocut with our inaugural printmaking workshop solely dedicated to the technique. It is perfect for beginners and for print enthusiasts alike. You can find more information by following this link to the Berlin Drawing Room's workshop website: 

http://www.berlindrawingroom.com/printmaking/

I hope you enjoy the images. 

All the best,

Patrick

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1.   Karol Hiller, Cotton I (1930), linocut on paper

2.   Karol Hiller, Machines (1929), linocut on paper

3.   Karol Hiller, At the Machine (1931), linocut on paper

4.   Karol Hiller, Factory's Courtyard (1922), linocut on paper

5.   Josef Čapek, Dívka (1918), linocut on paper

6.   Josef Čapek, Kouřící voják (1919), linocut on paper

7.   Josef Čapek, Letící ptáček (1920), linocut on paper

8.   Josef Čapek, Musaion (1920), linocut on paper

9.   Josef Čapek, Sen o zástupu zoufajících (1921), linocut on paper

10. Josef Čapek, Zajíc před terčem (1920), linocut on paper

Keegan Luttrell teaching in Myanmar

Berlin Drawing Room instructor and artist Keegan Luttrell just returned to Berlin after teaching art to international high school students in Myanmar. Keegan's own description of her experience is truly inspiring! We are so excited to continue working with her and see what she will do next! Stay tuned for updates on her upcoming workshops and exhibitions. 

"This is me. In my classroom on one of the last day of school. I never thought coming here would have changed me so much. This place has opened its arms to me and has found its way deep into my core, a bond unshakable. I came here to be a teacher, but like always it has taught me much more than I could ever give. Its beauty doesn't just lie in golden pagodas or busy street markets and old colonial buildings. Its beauty lies in the people - the people of Myanmar and the people who have flocked here to find something. I've always been attracted to places that are deeply rooted in trauma, perhaps in order to deal with my own. Myanmar is no exception - its had a rough past and now a quick rebirth. In the moments that were difficult or different from what I deem "normal", no matter how devastating, something beautiful was always around the corner. That polarity allows you, if you are willing, to connect to the people here. A smile, a mingalabar, a new found openness. There is beauty in everything here and if you just open your eyes and your heart, it will change you. It is what the people have given me that I will remember the most - their unwavering, insurmountable kindness and beauty that I hope to carry after I leave. This place will change. I will change, but I am grateful that I got to connect in whatever way possible and that I have so much to take with me. I am full. " - Keegan Luttrell, 2017

Check out Keegan's own work here www.keeganluttrell.com

Impressions from January Photo Transfer Workshop

In early frigid January right after the new year, I conducted the Photo Transfer Workshop: Image and Memory at the Berlin Drawing Room with eight eager students. This was my first time teaching at the Berlin Drawing Room and first time teaching adults! Each person who attended the workshop came from varying countries but resided in Berlin as well as each had varying different backgrounds and decided to take the class to learn new techniques with photography. One student was gifted the workshop from a friend for the holidays - a great idea for anyone interested in taking a class! We began the workshop learning about the history of photography and looking at contemporary artists who use photo transfers in their work as well as artists whose work focuses on the idea of memory. Photo transfers are unique in the fact that they can leave partial images or residues and they inherently feel timeless, so it was beneficial to focus on the theme of memory and discuss how we could incorporate it into the work.

Throughout the course we learned three different transfer techniques - solvent transfer, acrylic medium and tape transfers. All three have try different qualities and produce unique results. We began with the solvent transfers. After using many varying solvents in my own work, I found a great solution which creates beautiful images - Citristip - a safe and friendly paint stripper product found very cheaply in the USA. Unfortunately Citristip is very expensive on amazon.de in Germany so I managed to smuggle the solvent in several shampoo bottles from when I was home over the holidays. I supplied the students with images on the first class to give them a feel for the process and it was clear that everyone loved the way images transferred this way, just not the price! I of course wanted to make sure that the materials we used were accessible for everyone, except that Citrisrip went up in price in the EU. I have never seen so many people band together to find a way to get their hands on a solution! Many students researched ways to get the solvent or find alternatives in Germany because they loved it so much! One student ordered it from the USA and low and behold it did arrive a few weeks later! Problem solved!

Our second class was devoted to Acrylic Gel Medium Transfer, probably the most popular technique when it comes to photo transfer. That is because it can be used with inkjet, color and black and white images, whereas Citristip can only be used with black and white laser prints. Gel medium transfers allow you transfer onto several different surfaces including glass, metal, plastic and ceramic, by putting the image face down and rubbing off the back of the image, leaving all areas that are white to be transparent.The only downside is that it takes a while to remove the paper from the back of the transfer. Some students loved this process, others realised it took too long for them to create a successful image.

For our field trip we had a unique experience meeting with the curator and artists showing at DISPLAY in Schöneberg. The exhibition featured collaborative sculptural work by Marie Jeschke and Anja Langer. We spoke to curator Marie dePasquier about the development of the show Enrico - Autoaction in Rehearsals, later the artist joined our lively discussion about collaboration, chance and intuition when it comes to art making. It was a great experience to have all different perspectives and to learn more about the artist’s work.

We returned to the studio the following week to learn one more technique - tape tranfers, created with packing tape using a similar method as the gel medium transfers. It was a nice addition to our repertoire of techniques but it was clear everyone loved to experiment with what they had learned and wanted to work! The studio was alive with creation and each student was exploring and making new beautiful work. We finished our last class with a group critique and reflected on our work as well as our experience Many artists incorporated themes and ideas of memory into their work and I was very fortunate to have such an explorative, eager group of students for this workshop! I hope to continue to teach this workshop as well as many others in the future!

-Keegan Luttrell

making Photo Transfers

We are very excited to offer a new workshop within the Mixed media category at the Berlin Drawing Room. Click on the link below for a complete workshop description. Registration is now open for the upcoming January 5 - 26, 2017 workshop. Sign up now to reserve your place!

Photo Transfer: Image and Memory

Artist Keegan Luttrell will teach several Photo Transfer techniques that relate to her own artistic practice. The Photo Transfer is actually just the starting point to making richly layered mixed media artworks, incorporating painting, drawing and collage. 

Check out the demo video below for a teaser of what to expect from this workshop. 

Staring with found images, photos, drawing, etc... the image is transferred to the drawing surface using a variety of techniques.

Photo Transfer Demo with Keegan Luttrell

Cyanotype Workshop Impressions

Impressions from our first Guest Artist Workshop which took place on September 10-11. We had a wonderful group of students! We are looking forward to repeating this workshop in the Spring when the sun comes out again. 

"Cyanotype: Drawing in Four Dimensions"with Hiroshi McDonald Mori 

Dive into the process of Cyanotype in this intensive weekend workshop! Cyanotype is a photographic technique that exposes images in sunlight. Creating an image requires no negatives but rather invites a direct approach that combines elements of drawing, painting and sculpture with the final element of time. Mix the alchemical concoction discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1842 to create your own solutions, prepare, expose, and develop photosensitive paper. By learning the chemical process involved, you will also unlock infinite possibilities for deconstructing the medium to create unique effects.