And staying in school is no small expense. At LCC a one-credit independent study in printmaking would cost you $221 ($98 per credit, plus $123 incidental fees), as best I can tell. That would give you access to a printmaking studio for about 10 weeks, your access being limited to campus hours and non-class times.
Or, if you have the space for it, you could set up your own printmaking studio. How big is your living room? It could probably accommodate a small press and the other sundry equipment you need to practice your art.
Now, however, Eugene printmakers have a third option. Whiteaker Printmakers is a membership studio opening up April. It is run by artist Heather Halpern and her techno-geek husband (and brother of mine) Paul. The studio is in the Whiteaker, Eugene's artsy district. Heather and Paul have done an amazing job of acquiring presses, equipment, furniture, and supplies to stock the nascent studio.
Studio membership dues will pay the rent, utilities, and other operating expenses. My cocktail napkin calculation shows that member rates will need to be set at somewhere between $80 and $100 a month to break even. Members will have year-round 24-by-7 access to the studio, however, making it a much better deal than staying in school.
Plus, it's a great space. It's in the same building as Clay Space (another membership studio), and it's lit with bright, indirect daylight. The building has a big parking lot, with plenty of street parking as well. You could park at the studio, work yourself into exhaustion, then walk to Ninkasi, Pizza Research, Izaki Meiji or any of the other nearby eateries and drinkeries for refueling.
I haven't done much in the way of printmaking since I ran a little screenprinting business back in the time of the Reagan administration. But that handsome letterpress at the WhitPrint studio is calling to me. I think I need to learn how to use it.
