Students will jump start their creativity by connecting with the work of an inspiring artist: Jasper Johns. The goal of this class is to spend a week learning new printmaking techniques. Students will create a series of artworks where they choose the subject matter/theme. From South Carolina and one of the most famous artists still alive and making new work, Jasper Johns has a wide range of processes to learn from and spark inspiration. Students will learn the secrets of why a collograph works, how it’s like a collage and what makes it a type of printmaking. Lastly, since brayers are a printmaking tool for rolling ink onto a surface, and because a collograph requires the use of layers in the design, this funky/fun learning experience is called “Brayer with Layers.”

Instructor: Chris Stafford has been a public high school art teacher for 19 years, along with working with middle schoolers, at the YMCA, and at an alternative school in New Mexico for a year. He received his Master’s degree from USC, but says he found his life’s calling when he spent a summer as a camp counselor. Mr. Stafford is an extremely enthusiastic art teacher who has a special talent for keeping students engaged and excited.