What I've Learned From Running My First Printmaking Workshops
When I first started planning printmaking workshops, I was excited about sharing something I love with other people. I wanted to help people discover lino printing, have a go at something new and experience the satisfaction of making something by hand. I'd spent time planning the sessions, preparing materials and thinking about how to guide people through the process. But there were things I hadn't really considered until I started running the workshops myself.
The joy of seeing people discover printmaking
One of the best things about running workshops is seeing what happens when someone tries printmaking for the first time. People can arrive feeling unsure about what image to choose, whether they'll be able to carve it or how they'll manage to turn their idea into a print. With a bit of guidance and encouragement, that uncertainty starts to disappear. Watching people develop their ideas, experiment with materials and proudly show their finished work has been incredibly rewarding. I've had lovely feedback, and people have asked about future workshops. It's given me a real boost and made me realise how much I enjoy teaching.
I also love talking about printmaking. There are so many possibilities, from simple relief prints and printed fabrics to colour layering and reduction lino printing. Sometimes I have to remind myself to stop talking and let everyone get on with making! For me, a workshop isn't just about teaching someone to make a particular print or item. It's about opening up the possibilities of printmaking and helping people feel confident enough to keep exploring.
The bit I hadn't fully anticipated
What I hadn't quite appreciated was how much energy goes into running a workshop. There's the preparation beforehand, organising and transporting materials, setting up the space, supporting everyone during the session and then packing everything away afterwards. Even when a workshop goes really well, there's a lot to think about. I work full-time alongside my printmaking, so workshops have to fit around my usual working week. I can spend hours thinking about ideas and preparing for a session, often because I'm excited about it and want people to have a good experience. But I've started to realise that enjoying something doesn't necessarily mean it takes no energy. After some of my early workshops, I've felt completely exhausted. I've also noticed how important sleep and recovery are when I'm fitting everything around work and other commitments. It's made me think more carefully about how I use my energy, rather than simply looking at whether I have enough time in my diary.
I’m trying to to find a balance
I think it's easy, when you're building something you're passionate about, to focus on what you want to achieve next. There are always more ideas to try, new workshops to develop and things I'd like to share. Now that I've started running sessions, I'm already thinking about different techniques, future projects and how I can help people develop their skills. But I also want to enjoy building this part of my practice without turning it into another source of pressure. I'm learning that I need to leave space around workshops for preparation and recovery, and to be realistic about how often I can run them alongside my full-time job.
That doesn't mean I'm any less enthusiastic. If anything, it means I'm thinking about how to keep doing this in a way that works for me in the longer term. I'd rather run workshops regularly at a manageable pace, giving each one the time and attention it deserves, than take on too much and lose some of the enjoyment that made me want to do this in the first place.
Despite the tiredness and the things I'm still learning, running workshops has given me a real sense of satisfaction. I love seeing people discover something new, sharing my knowledge and watching their confidence grow. I enjoy the conversations, the laughter and the little moments when someone realises they can do something they weren't sure about at the beginning.
I'm still finding my feet as a workshop leader, and I expect I'll continue learning with every session. For now, I'm taking things one workshop at a time, celebrating what goes well and paying attention to what I need to make it sustainable. There's plenty more I'd like to explore with printmaking, and I'm excited to see where it takes me.
Sometimes building something you love isn't about doing more. It's about finding a way to keep doing it.
