Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: JAY SCHUMANN ’71

The Storm King School had a very special visitor on campus this spring. Artist and printmaker Jay Schumann, Class of 1971, joined us April 10–13 from San Francisco, California, as the School’s 2017 artist-in-residence. Mr. Schumann’s residency was a wonderful experience for our students and a fitting prelude to Storm King’s first Spring Arts Weekend, which took place April 20–23.

During his time here on the Mountain, and in between reminiscing, strolling across campus, and visiting nearby Storm King Art Center, Mr. Schumann spent three days in the SKS Art Department coaching our students on his craft: the art and process of printmaking.

The first phase of Mr. Schumann’s printmaking project took place inside the classroom with Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair John Carruthers at his side. Mr. Schumann taught the students how to create their own detailed intaglio etchings using the correct tools on copper and plexiglass sheets called plates.

 

 

ABOUT INTAGLIO

During the etching process, fine lines are cut, or engraved, into the plates using a tool called a burin or graver. After creating a finished image, the plate is inked. Then, the surface of the plate is wiped clean and the ink that remains within the incised lines is used to print the image. A dampened paper, when pressed firmly against the plate, absorbs the ink left inside the lines. When the paper is removed, the finished image appears in relief on the paper.

“The etchings are very delicate works. Don’t use too much pressure when drawing your images,” Mr. Schumann instructed the students. “Only a soft touch is needed. Pay attention to the beauty of the lines and let them flow into one another,” he said.

 

 

Mr. Schumann also accompanied the class during the second phase of the project, which took place at the Garrison Art Center’s studio in Garrison, New York. The students brought the finished plates they made and printed with them using the studio’s large plate press. Mr. Schumann shared his expertise on how to apply the ink, clean the plates, and get the best results from their etchings. Under his guidance, the students produced unique pieces of work and had a lot of fun in the process.

 

 

According to Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Schumann made a significant contribution to his classes just before the School’s first Spring Arts Weekend. “I truly enjoyed having Mr. Schumann on campus and seeing his classes through a ‘professional’ lens,” he said. “I liked sitting back and watching Mr. Schumann critique the students with such a high level of expectation. The students found it more challenging, and they produced great work as a result.”

 

THE MAKING OF A PRINTMAKER

Mr. Schumann’s artistic endeavors began with an interest in photography during his time here at SKS. Following graduation, he became involved in filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute. He later discovered his love for painting during his time at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Schumann immersed himself in the art of intaglio printmaking nearly seven years ago after attending workshops at Crown Point Press in San Francisco. “I am a process-oriented person,” explained Mr. Schumann when describing what drew him to pursue printmaking. “Printing is also very process-oriented. All the Arts are.” Mr. Schumann currently exhibits his works several times a year at ArtSpan’s Open Studios in San Francisco.

Many thanks go out to Jay for travelling across the country for this volunteer role, and to John Carruthers and the rest of the Storm King community for their enthusiasm and commitment to the Arts.  If you would like to participate in an art residency at The Storm King School, please contact Lynn Crevling at lcrevling@sks.org.