The course will centre around Drypoint printmaking – a beautiful ‘intaglio’ process closely associated with etching but with no need for acid! It has the potential of creating lovely contrasts within a piece of work and as Barga has glorious narrow roads and interesting corners everywhere, with light and shadow, it gives one loads of opportunities to highlight these in the work.

Now, from The Master Printmaker, we are delighted to offer THE Drypoint Masterclass. Michael Waight has not only printed his own work but also work for many famous artists. He now joins us for a trio of activities.....a residency in Barga, an exhibition in the Quattro Archi gallery in summer 2026 and....THE Drypoint Matserclass. Drawing on many years of hands on printmaking in the print room at Peacock Printmakers, Michael will guide beginners and experienced alike through the drypoint process providing the basics, advanced techniques and insider's top tips. The class taking place at Quatro Archi in Barga, Italy will centre around Drypoint printmaking – a beautiful ‘intaglio’ process closely associated with etching but with no need for acid! It has the potential of creating lovely contrasts within a piece of work and as Barga has glorious narrow roads and interesting corners everywhere, with light and shadow, it gives one loads of opportunities to highlight these in the work. Initially a small Perspex plate can be ‘played with’ – maybe gridded up to try out various tools at hand and what marks these may give you. Time will be available to explore in Barga through sketching and photos what you might want to develop further. As Drypoint is quite often seen as a black and white process, we will give time to challenge this by ‘playing’ with various coloured dyes on thin paper that can then be cut or torn and used for ‘chine colle’, while inking up ‘A la poupee’ prior to running these through the press.

Join us for an immersive 6-day retreat in the heart of Tuscany. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills in Drypoint printmaking using acrylic sheetwhile surrounded by the inspiring beauty of medieval Barga.

What is Drypoint?....read more ......

Drypoint ...What's that?   I often get asked this question, so let me take a moment to explain.

Printmaking has always had something magical about it: the moment when an inked plate and damp paper meet under the pressure of a press and reveal an image that was once only a scratch on a surface.

Among the many printmaking techniques artists use, drypoint printmaking is perhaps one of the most direct and expressive. It feels almost like drawing, except instead of pencil on paper, the artist draws into a plate.

Drypoint is part of the intaglio family of printmaking techniques, where lines are scratched into a surface and ink sits in those recessed marks and the burr before printing.

Unlike some other printmaking methods, drypoint does not rely on acid or complex preparation. The artist simply scratches the image directly into the plate using a sharp tool. This simplicity is part of what makes drypoint such an appealing technique for both beginners and experienced printmakers.

Modern drypoint printmaking often uses acrylic (or perspex) plates, which are lightweight, affordable, and easy to scratch. And offers the advantage of being able to trace an image through the clear acrylic sheet.

To create an image, the artist uses a drypoint needle or stylus to draw directly onto the plate. The tool scratches the surface and pushes the material aside, creating a tiny raised ridge along the line called a burr. The burr is what makes drypoint unique.

Because it holds extra ink, the burr produces the soft, velvety lines that are characteristic of drypoint prints. Instead of sharp engraved lines, the result feels closer to an expressive drawing.

Artists can vary the depth and pressure of the tool to create lighter or darker lines and build up tone using cross-hatching and layered marks.

Once the drawing is complete, the plate is covered with etching ink using the

A la poupée  technique in which different coloured inks are applied to the plate with a wad of fabric.This wiping stage removes ink from the smooth areas while leaving ink inside the scratched lines.

Drypoint prints are created using an etching press. Before printing, the paper is dampened by soaking it briefly in water and then blotting it so it remains moist rather than wet. Damp paper is softer and more flexible, allowing it to press into the scratched lines and pick up the ink.

The plate is placed on the press bed, the damp paper laid carefully on top, and thick blankets are placed over it. As the press rolls forward, the pressure transfers the ink from the plate onto the paper. When the paper is lifted away, the printed image appears as a mirror of the original drawing. The print is now Bon a tirer (BAT) – The first perfect print to come from the printing surface.

Sometimes coloured paper is added to the printing process as Chine Collé – a technique in which ink is transferred onto a thin sheet of paper while simultaneously sticking the thin sheet to a stronger, thicker sheet of paper to add areas of colour to a single colour print.

With just a sharp needle, an acrylic plate, ink, and paper, an artist can create prints that feel spontaneous, textured, and deeply expressive. It’s a simple technique with remarkable character—one that continues to inspire artists centuries after it first appeared.