Located at 306 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, Cal's Gallery offers a unique printmaking workshop as part of our commitment to contemporary art. This nonprofit print studio focuses on edition work, providing artists with the resources and support they need to create exceptional prints.

Our printmaking workshop serves as an inspiring environment for both emerging and established artists. Visitors can engage with our current exhibitions and learn about the techniques and processes involved in printmaking. Whether you are an artist looking to expand your skills or a visitor eager to learn more about the art form, our workshop is a valuable stop during your visit to Cal's Gallery.

We invite you to explore our space, connect with our represented artists, and immerse yourself in the creative process. For more information about our workshops and exhibitions, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Understanding Edition Printmaking

Edition work sits at the heart of a print studio like the Lower East Side Printshop. An edition is a set of impressions pulled from the same matrix, whether that is a copper plate, a carved block, a lithographic stone or a screen. Each sheet is printed by hand, inspected, and, once the run is complete, signed and numbered by the artist. The number written as a fraction, such as 12/40, tells you which impression you are holding and how many were made in total.

Collaborative printmaking is often a conversation between artist and master printer. The artist brings an idea, a drawing or a set of colour decisions; the printer brings technical judgement about inks, papers, registration and pressure. Before an edition is printed, the pair usually work through several trial and working proofs, adjusting until a final reference sheet is approved. That sheet becomes the standard every impression in the edition is matched against.

Common techniques you may encounter

  • Etching and intaglio: lines are bitten or incised into a metal plate, which is inked and wiped so ink stays only in the grooves.
  • Lithography: a planographic process relying on the way grease and water repel each other on stone or aluminium plates.
  • Relief: woodcut and linocut, where the raised surface carries the ink.
  • Screenprinting: ink is pushed through a mesh stencil, ideal for flat, saturated colour.
  • Monotype: a painterly method yielding a single unique print rather than an edition.

Looking at prints with a closer eye

When viewing prints, it helps to notice the paper itself: its weight, deckled edges and any embossed chop mark identifying the studio or printer. Plate marks around an etching, subtle variations in ink density and the crispness of registration between colours all reveal the care taken at the press. Artist's proofs, marked A.P., are typically set aside outside the numbered edition.

Many of the ideas explored in our exhibitions connect with printmaking traditions, and practical details for planning a trip can be found on our Visit page. As studio programmes and hours can change, it is always worth confirming details directly before you go.