Advanced Printing & Color Show

The Advanced Printing and Color Show class is the culmination of all your prior class accomplishments at the Chicago Photography Classes (CPC). Everything you have done so far will be needed for this class – this is your time to show.

This 10-week class we take the final step in our journey. We will be creating photographic works of art ready to hang on your wall or for your clients to take home. Translating your work from the computer to artwork is not easy.

Throughout my artistic career, I’ve had to reinvent my work several times, and for the first time in class history, I will be producing work with you, guiding you through the process. This time our final will not be a critique; we will be displaying these works at CPC in January 2024.

Up front, this class will be an investment in both time and cost. In addition to the cost of the class, supplies may cost upwards to $600-$700.  It will consist of advanced printing time, project development, experimentation, and unique mounting and display techniques. In the first week, we will need to place an order for Awagami Paper size (TBD)  and a box of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 8.5×11 to test images.

Our final images will be printed on Awagami Bizan, an exquisite hand-made paper from Japan, rarely used by any photographers in the United States. The resulting show in January is considered too valuable to be on display in the CPC hallway. As a group, we will be curating an exclusive display space in the CPC lobby.

Through many years of development and testing, I engineered a back frame and mounting technique that focuses attention on the artwork instead of a traditional framed presentation. The look was incredibly popular selling thousands of these across the country. Participants will have an exclusive opportunity to order acrylic mounts from my supplier. I will need to obtain a quote on cost, each frame dependent on the size the class agrees upon. It is an exclusive design that is not available to the public.

For class, I will suggest purchasing 3 or 4 mounts and will place a group order with my account. There will be no mark up on these items, so it will be as if you were ordering direct (cost included in the estimated supply costs).

Timelines will be extremely strict for this class to ensure each of us showcases our own work for the show in January. We will be deciding as a group on the size and quantity of pieces. Everyone enrolled in the class will have at least one piece on display. Number of pieces depend on class size and the final size of the work.

Supplies such as glue, razor blades, brushes and varnish will be included in the class. We will be testing an acrylic varnish; however, the MSA varnish we will most likely use for the final is very intense. Due to the nature of this product, I will be finishing your pieces over the semester break December 24 to January 1 as this is a 3-day process. The process does not tolerate any interruption and I will be working with toxic fumes, so you are not required to be there.

Week 1 – Group discussion on paper size and artwork size.

Place order with Awagami by end of the day in order to receive the paper in time for final prep

We will also need to place an order for mounts by the end of class.

Week 2 – Discussion on image selection, theme, and pricing.

Free print to start image prep process

Week 3 – Color and mood discussion.

Free print to start image color prep process

Week 4 – Hahnemühle 13×19 Torchon print day

(paper included – do not purchase)

Week 5 – Glue and cut discussion and workshop

Week 6 – Water based varnish test

Week 7 – Awagami Bizan paper tests

Week 8 – Final printing

Week 9 – Final printing

Week 10 – Final Show preparation

Winter Break – Dates (TBD) 3-day final artwork preparation

January – Date (TBD) Show opening

Participants must have approval from the instructor and administrator.