We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge their living connection to Country, relationship with the land and all living things extending back tens of thousands of years.
Winners Announced
2025 judges:
Lisa Sullivan, Senior curator at Geelong Gallery, &
Emily Ferretti, renowned Australian Painter and printmaker.
Exhibition Dates: 24th April - 17th May
View 35 selected Monoprints HERE
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Artwork: Debra Winn, 'Annealing' (Detail)
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ABOUT
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The Firestation Print Studio is a dynamic hub of arts activity, with printmaking at its core, yet open to a wide range of projects and practices. As a community based organisation, the curatorial strategy supports artists with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds at various stages of their career, by providing a supportive environment in which to create and exhibit their artwork. This is a unique element of the Firestation, as we provide facilities for all stages of artistic development in printmaking, from the inception and execution of artwork in the print workshop, to its presentation and display to the public in the gallery. |
WORKSHOPS |
View all printmaking workshops HERE
May 17&18 Kate Gorringe-Smith Eco Prints & Monoprints
Collaborating with Nature
Kate Gorringe-Smith
eco prints & monoprint workshop
TWO DAY WORKSHOP
May 17th & 18th. 10am-4pm with 1hr for lunch.
$390 plus gst / $350 plus gst members.
Materials provided
Eco-printing on paper PLUS monoprinting with natural objects
In this two-day workshop Kate will teach participants techniques to eco-print on
paper and fabric. She will also teach a simple monoprinting technique to incorporate
the use of natural materials or other textured itemas into your prints.
While working as a scientific editor for BirdLife Australia in the 1990s, Kate studied printmaking at RMIT. Kate has taken part in eight solo and numerous group exhibitions in Australia and overseas. Her work is held in national collections, and has featured in awards such as the 2015 Silk Cut Award for Linocut, the 2017 Manly Artists' Book Prize, the 2021 Burnie and Geelong Print Prizes and the Castlemaine Experimental Print Prize and the 2022 National Works on Paper Prize.
LEARN MORE about Kate and her projects HERE
May 24th, DEBRA WINN Dark Field Monotype Printmaking
DEBRA WINN
Dark Field Monotype Printmaking:
The Art of Subtraction
One day workshop May 24th,
10am-4pm
Materials provided
Workshop Overview
Discover the depth and nuance of dark field monotype in this hands-on workshop. This printmaking method allows you to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints with striking contrasts and delicate subtleties in black and white. Perfect for exploring any subject matter—from portraits to landscapes to abstract forms—this workshop emphasizes experimentation within a supportive and creative environment.
The session includes a demonstration and examples of work. Bring your own reference images, objects, or any items that inspire your creativity. Or explore the references provided. Suitable for all experience levels, from beginners and seasoned artists.
What You’ll Learn
- Techniques for creating both bold contrast and soft subtleties in black and white prints
- Approaches to building depth, texture and movement using dark field monotype methods
- Ways to explore and work with various subjects, whether realistic, figurative, abstract, or landscape-based
Debra Winn is an award-winning artist whose work is represented in national and international collections, such as the New York Public Library and the State Library of Victoria. Awarded the 2023 Firestation Print Workshop’s Biennial Australian Monoprint Prize and shortlisted for the prestigious Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2022, Debra has won accolades and been shortlisted for many awards.
June 28th and 29th, From Plant to Paper, with Gail Stiffe
From Plant to Paper
Paper making with Plant Fibres
A 2 day, weekend workshop.
28th and 29th of June, 11am - 3pm.
Firestation Print Studio back room and acid room
$295 plus gst
$255 plus gst members
Maximum of 8.
Day 1 Learn how to select common garden plants and weeds into paper. Learn techniques for harvesting,
preparation, cooking, beating and sheet forming. Paper can be made from cumbungi, NZ Flax, grasses, red
hot poker and many barks. This session will be spent preparing and cooking fibre from Mulberry bark and
ginger lily. Other pre-cooked fibres will be processed in preparation for making paper on the second day. The
class is suitable for beginners and those who have done some papermaking.
Day 2
Learn to make sheets of paper from the pulps prepared on day one. You will learn what additives can be
added to the vats to ease sheet formation, various ways to press and dry the papers and how to add
dimension.
What to bring
Plastic apron (day 1)
Wooden or rubber mallet or a 60cm long piece of thick dowel (3-4 cm diam) (day 1)
Secateurs and scissors (day 1)
A piece of thick plywood (2-3 cm thick and about 30 x40 cm) an old cupboard door would suffice or an off-
cut of laminate. You will be using it to beat the fibre on. (day 1)
10 pieces of sheeting or other smooth fabric approx 30 x 40 b (day 2)
2 pieces of fibro cement approx 1m square (optional)(day 2)
A clean paint roller standard size (20+cm) (day 2)
ABOUT GAIL STIFFE
Gail started her creative life in knitting and crocheting before discovering hand papermaking in the early 1980’s. Quickly becoming addicted to hand papermaking and the many possibilities it offers for creative expression led to a build up of paper supplies that in turn led her to investigate bookbinding as a way of presenting her work. She hasn’t looked back since then and her books are held in many public and private collections.
Gail has held several solo exhibitions and participated in many group shows both in Australia and overseas. She is currently President of Papermakers of Victoria and has been both President and Bulletin editor for the International paper association IAPMA and convened the Australian Women’s Art Register. She has had a web presence since 1997 and her current websites are www.gailstiffe.info and www.papergail.blogspot.com.
Although she has been making paper and books for over forty years she still finds joy in discovery of new structures and effects. Her work has appeared in several International books and magazines and she designed two books Lark Books’ “Eco Books”.
Friday May 30th, Karen Neal INTRODUCTION TO FOLDED BOOK MAKING
KAREN NEAL
INTRODUCTION TO FOLDED BOOK MAKING
Friday May 30th
10am - 4pm
materials provided
$185 / $155members
Create a Flower Fold Book
Learn to fold and join the base form, create covers then cut up and add your own artwork to create your sculptural book.
This book structure is a fabulous way to repurpose leftover or not quite right prints, drawings or paintings on paper.
All the base book making materials are supplied.
Please Bring
Lots of works on paper (prints, paintings or drawings) that you are happy to cut up to for your covers and pages.
June 7&8 PHIL RIDGWAY Solander Box Workshop
PHIL RIDGWAY
Solander (Clamshell) Box Workshop
Two Days, Sat June 7th & Sun June 8th, 11am - 4pm
$450 / $415 members
Materials provided
Boxes can provide extra protection for your books, keeping out light and dust.
Solander/ clamshell style, the classic lid & tray, working with A4, various book cloth colours, and end papers available for participants to select from
ABOUT PHIL RIDGWAY
I undertook private studies in bookbinding in the UK and France, developed further in both professional and self driven practice. The MSB was started to pass on the skills and knowledge I’d acquired to anyone who was interested in bookbinding. The OrtBindery grew from that established studio…
Through both, I try to provide bookbinding excellence – in both tuition and services…
Fri May 23rd BRONWYN REES EXPERIMENT WITH ARTISTS BOOKS
BRONWYN REES
EXPERIMENT WITH ARTISTS BOOKS
ONE DAY WORKSHOP
Friday May 23rd
10am - 4pm
You will use your own prints, printers proofs, or even discarded practice prints. Selection, assembling composition and construction.
Download details here
$185 / $155 members
materials provided
GALLERY
LIFE DRAWING |
PRINT CLUBS |
Every Tuesday evening 7-9pm drop in!
IMPORTANT: New Lifedrawing time will be 6:30-8:30 from Tuesday 22 April . EXCLUDES SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Bring paper & drawing materials. Easels provided. Members $23 Non members $25 Concession* $23 *Concession price is available for Pension or Student card holders More info here |
PRINT CLUBS are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
5 sessions per month, $11 - $30 per session 3 hour sessions with ink provided and supervisors on hand Proudly supported by the City of Stonnington Dates and more here BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL |
WORKSHOPS, SUPERVISED ACCESS OR PRINT CLUBS
YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING
Our qualified printmakers:
FPS members who have completed their induction, and pay access fees, are able to make bookings, and come in to use our presses and the backroom, before you do so, please read our FPS Covid Safe Plan HERE
