Workshop

The Firestation workshop is available for use by trained printmakers 365 days a year, 8am – 11pm. 

The Firestation Print Studio

The Firestation Print Studio offers a range of facilities for printmakers at a very reasonable rate. There are kitchen facilities, free parking, a drying rack and boards as well as large bench areas to work on. The access studio provides the opportunity for artists to use facililites such as etching, relief printing, lino, collographs, monoprinting, and drypoint. The acid room provides ferric chloride for copper plate etching, a large water bath and a spray booth for aquatinting. 

To use the Firestation Print Studio:

  •  Artists must become members and must be competent in printmaking
  • 3 x 3 hr Supervised Access Sessions are required of all new workshop users. (See Supervised Access Session below for more details.)
  • Competency assessment is made by supervising, in-house printmaker- One may be required to undergo further training at this stage, if deemed necessary by Supervisor. (Please see Supervised Access Session for more details)
  •  Signing off on all Health and Safety Workshop Documents and Introduction to the systems and procedures of the Workshop

The Firestation print studio is equipped with:

  • Large NSK press (86cm x 162cm)
  • Hilton press (70cm x 130cm)
  • Small Enjay press (58cm x 98cm)
  • Hot plate
  • Letter press
  • Small book binding press
  • Rollers, butchers paper, rags, degreasing chemicals, are included in the workshop fee. There is no extra charge to process plates. 

Please note that solvent is not allowed in the workshop.

 

Supervised Access Sessions

  • 3 supervised access sessions are required to gain full, independent, 24/7 Print Studio access. In these sessions the Session Supervisor assesses the new member’s printmaking skills and introduces them to the Firestation’s equipment, Health and Safety, clean-up and lock-up procedures.
  • New user’s knowledge of the Print Studio is tested formally at the end of the set of sessions.
  • Classes in printmaking may be deemed necessary if printmaking competency levels are not met.

Supervised access is mandatory for all printmakers to cover Firestation Occupational Health and Safety, for insurance purposes. The sessions ensure that all safety and procedural information has been provided to artists before they commence using the Print Studio independently.

Please Note the following:

Supervised Access Sessions are designed for those with printmaking experience. These sessions are not suitable for those without prior printmaking experience. 

Intensive 1:1 tuition or printmaking classes are required before supervised access sessions can be undertaken. Both personal tuition and printmaking classes are offered by the Firestation.

Membership is mandatory for all workshop users, except for class students.

 

Supervised Access Sessions 2011

Times to be arranged to suit both teacher and trainee!

 

Every effort will be made to accommodate new members wishing to undertake Supervised Access Sessions.

Cancellations 

A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to cancel a session, after which time the new member will be billed for the session. Please contact your Supervisor directly via email.

What the Firestation Provides:

  • Supervisor
  • Three Etching Presses
  • Blankets
  • Hotplate
  • Water-Bath
  • Ferric Chloride Acid Baths (for Copper Plates Only)
  • Small Rollers
  • Files 
  • Clean-up Oil
  • Non-slip mats
  • Cleaning Agent (Windex for the inking slabs after completion of session)
  • Kitchen Facilities (Microwave, Fridge, Kettle & Toaster)
  • Butchers paper / Newsprint
  

What to Bring:

  • Basically you should bring any material you wish to work with when you print. Please bring all that you require to print to avoid disappointment, examples listed below.
  • Gloves
  • Plates/Lino/Collagraph etc
  • Inks and Mediums
  • Paper you wish to print on
  • Towel for blotting of proofs
  • Sponges
  • Scrim/Tarlatan
  • Specialty tools you may require (There are some etching/wood-carving tools at the Studio)
  • Rags (Workshop only supplies rags for final degreasing of surfaces with Windex)
  • Grounds (Bitumen/Shellac/Hard/Soft Grounds etc)
  • Brushes
  • Solvents (To be used Outside)

The Cost

Supervised Access Sessions are $40 each and last for three hours, with a supervisor present while you print. Fees to be paid directly to the Supervisor and exact change is always helpful.
Total: $120
Plus Membership Fees of $85 / $65

Once only joining fee: $45/30

Bookings & Enquiries:

Booking is essential for this service as the sessions are number dependent, though every effort will be made to fit in with your schedule.
Contact the Firestation during office hours of 11- 1.30 & 2-5, Wed- Fri.
Phoone: (03) 9509 1782
Email: firestat@firestationprintstudio.com.au