This blog is my learning log for the OCA Printmaking 1 course, starting March 2014.

Printmaking 1 was my third OCA course after Drawing 1 and Watercolour 1. I had some minimal prior printmaking experience with linocuts, etching on perspex and collagraph and was so fascinated by what I saw other printmaking students doing that after about a year or so of hesitating, I decided to enrol to this course.

Initially, I was doing this course “for personal development only” and wasn’t going to apply for formal assessment because it didn’t fit into the painting degree pathway I had chosen. Nevertheless I was highly motivated and curious about what I was going to learn.

I anticipated that it was going to be tough to reserve enough time for coursework, because I work full-time and try to squeeze in so much in so few leisure time. I decided to give priority to the courses that count for the degree. But life is short and postponing things might have meant they were not going to happen at all. So I wanted try whether I was able to manage a piece of cake that’s too large, rather than not having it…

After a few months into the course, I contacted OCA about the possibility to have the course assessed and was very glad that I was admitted. I wouldn’t have expected it, but knowing the course would be assessed made a big difference. I felt it was acknowledged that I was serious about printmaking and aiming for results that were up to assessment standards.

I’m now at the end of the course. It was a hugely inspiring journey and I just wish I had had more time to explore techniques and ideas. But it was due to the recently imposed 4 year limit per study level that I had to cut myself short at times. Nevertheless I’m really glad I took the challenge and am planning to continue printmaking by myself, in parallel to my next and final level 1 course, Painting 1.