Registration Deposit: $170 (includes $25 reg fee)
Balance: $365, due 7/17/25 (includes $35 materials fee)
Total cost of Workshop: $535
Dates: Monday, September 15th – Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 (9am – 4pm)

Explore the exhilarating art of creating hand-printed impressions — without a press! This hands-on workshop offers a range of techniques, from traditional methods to more unconventional approaches, allowing you to transfer impressions from one object to another and build rich layers of pattern, image, and color.

Discover how to use clay slabs, foam, and up-cycled materials to produce unique monoprints that serve as a vibrant starting point for further creativity. Once your prints are made, you can draw, paint, and embellish them to create stunning, one-of-a-kind works of art.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, this workshop invites you to explore, innovate, and let your imagination take flight

Materials list:
1- Strathmore printmaking paper pad, 40 sheets 7″ X 5″- $ 6.60, available at Blick. (or can also be purchased from the instructor during class)
2- Yasutomo Japanese sketch paper pad (available at Blick) get the largest pad they have: $16.29
3- Wooden rolling pin

Instructor Bio:
Melissa Koch is a visual artist whose work is deeply rooted in the natural world. Inspired by the colors, textures, light, and patterns found in nature, her art reflects a profound connection to the forests, meadows, waters, flora, and fauna of the Pacific Northwest. Through her layered mixed media works, she explores the relationship between humans and the environment, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the serenity and wonder of the natural world. Raised on a Greek island in the Mediterranean, Koch was surrounded by mythology, migratory birds, and ancient ruins—early influences that sparked her fascination with storytelling and symbolism. She later studied architecture in England and taught at both Oxford and the Architectural Association in London before shifting her focus to the visual arts while living in Brussels.

Koch describes her artistic process as “slow art”—a contemplative, hands-on method in which every component is crafted by hand. She creates her own paper, carves clay plates for printing, and builds imagery layer by layer using ink, pencil, collage, and paint. Her expressive use of color acts as an emotional language, evoking joy, contemplation, and tranquility.
Her work is shaped by a rich tapestry of cultural influences—an eclectic blend of Western and Eastern traditions. From Mediterranean mythology to the decorative arts of Asia, and from European architecture to Northwest Indigenous storytelling, Koch’s multicultural background and deep reverence for nature infuses her art with mystery, vitality, and a timeless narrative. Her work is not defined by a single place or identity but emerges from a blending of many influences, cultures, and landscapes.

In addition to her studio practice, Koch has extensive experience teaching art to students of all ages across Europe, Seattle, and Whidbey Island. Her workshops are exploratory and playful, guiding students to discover their own creative voices while introducing techniques in printmaking, mixed media, painting, decorative arts and public art installations.