• Foam Sheet

• Pencil

• Brayer 

• Black Tempera Paint

• Paper Plate

• Copy paper 

• Printing paper (any kind)

FEATURED ARTIST

KYLE SIMON

Kyle Simon is a printmaker, multimedia artist, and storyteller whose work explores the intersection of art, science, and discovery. Originally from Philadelphia, he relocated to Joshua Tree after years as a master printer at Pace Prints in New York, where he collaborated with renowned artists like James Turrell and Kiki Smith. His practice incorporates printmaking, sculpture, sound, and experimental media, often inspired by astronomy, archaeology, mythologies, and historical modes of recording information. His recent work investigates the raw elements of light and sound in the desert landscape, exploring how perception and interpretation shape our understanding of the world. Kyle’s interest in synesthetic storytelling—engaging multiple senses—drives his process, whether through intricate prints, immersive installations, or conceptual sculptures. He is also the founder of Farrington Press, a fine art print studio collaborating with contemporary artists to expand the possibilities of print. Through his own practice and his print studio, he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and technical experimentation in art.

William Blake

William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker from the early 1800s, during the Romantic Age. He created a wide range of imaginative works and believed that creativity was a divine force, calling it “the body of God.” During his lifetime, Blake’s art was considered unusual, and many of his fellow artists thought he was mad because his style was so different. However, today he is celebrated for his originality and the deep ideas in his work. His most famous books, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, showcase his unique approach to art and storytelling. Not only did he write the poems and create the illustrations, but he also printed the books himself using a method he invented called “Illuminated Printing.” This process involved etching both text and images onto copper plates, which meant he had to write the words in reverse so they would print correctly—a technique known as “retrography.”

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The Ancient of Days, 18th Century. Etching, India ink, watercolor and gouache on paper, 9 1/10 x 6 3/5 in., Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, UK.

Francisco Goya

Francisco Goya was a famous Spanish painter and printmaker from the Romantic Age and is considered one of the most important Spanish artists of the early 19th century. He is often called “the last of the Old Masters and the first of the Moderns” because his work combines traditional techniques with bold, new ideas. In 1793, Goya became very sick with an unknown illness that left him deaf. Before this, he painted bright and cheerful portraits of Spain’s royal family and aristocracy. After his illness, his art changed—his work became darker, more serious, and full of emotion and dramatic scenes. Goya’s work has inspired countless artists over many generations and continues to influence artists and audiences to this day.

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, 1797 - 1799. Etching, Aquatint on laid paper, Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker known for her beautiful paintings of women and children. She was born in Pennsylvania but spent most of her life in France, where she worked alongside the Impressionist artists. Cassatt was especially interested in showing the strong and loving connections between mothers and their children. Her father did not support her dream of becoming a painter, so she briefly gave it up and moved to Chicago to find work. Unfortunately, some of her early paintings were lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Later that year, she returned to Europe and began gaining recognition as an artist. While she never spoke publicly about women’s rights, her art showed that women’s lives were important and full of meaning.
 

Mary Cassatt,Maternal Caress, circa 1891.

Color drypoint and softground etching on wove paper, 16 ¾ x 12 ⅜ in., National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.