Nicole Maloof

In this course, we will explore different ways in which narrative can be achieved through conventional and experimental applications of printmaking and bookmaking. How is a story told in a single panel? Over a series of pages? How might conventional means of storytelling be subverted and abstracted, stories retold? How do the formal choices in making an object affect the way a narrative unfolds? Does a story always require words? And does the form of a book always imply narrative no matter how abstract its content? Over the course of the semester, a variety of basic printmaking processes will be covered—including monotype, silkscreen, and relief cut—along with an assortment of bookbinding techniques, including simple folding, pamphlet binding, accordion binding, Japanese stab binding, coptic binding, and other types of stitching that can be employed. Students will be asked to produce both one-of-a-kind artist books and easily reproducible books to then be distributed on the Sarah Lawrence College campus.

In this course, we will explore the curious ways in which colors interact with one another. We will perform a multitude of color experiments in order to witness for ourselves the wide range of phenomena that arise from the relative nature of color. We will use Josef Albers’s seminal text as a guide, as we explore concepts such as color intensity, brightness and value, illusions of transparency, additive and subtractive mixtures, and the Bezold effect, among others. In addition, we will discuss psychology and color perception, learning about color constancy and optical illusions, as well as take a simplified version of the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test to see how sensitive we are to discrepancies in hue. Lastly, we will extend our examination of color to various cultural contexts and works of art.

In this course, we will cover the fundamental techniques of silkscreen printing, a form of printmaking that utilizes and expands upon the simple concept of the stencil. We will cover a range of basic techniques that lend themselves well to a home setup, including hand-cut stencils, printing multiple layers, and drawing directly on the screen with drawing fluid. We will also look into ways in which silkscreen can be combined with other media, opening up its aesthetic possibilities. Students will be encouraged to independently explore subject matter, ideas, and aesthetic modes of their own choosing, as we develop a cumulative understanding of technical knowledge. The goal of the course will be to master the basic process of silkscreen in service of developing a sophisticated language using this versatile medium.