From Rocking to Rolling:
An Introduction to Mezzotint
A 3-day Intensive Workshop with Art Werger
June 26 - 28, 2026 (Friday - Sunday)
Friday, 6 - 10 PM - Public Demo & Artist Talk
Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM - Workshop
Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM - Workshop
(1 hour lunch break each day of workshop)
Early Registration Deadline: May 26, 2026
[ REGISTER HERE ]
Tuition
Early Registration by May 26
$360 (Student Rate: $306 with valid student ID)
Regular Registration by June 26
$415 (Student Rate: $352 with valid student ID)
* 15% discount student rates offered only with valid academic student i.d. We will contact you to obtain verification in advance of the workshop.
Description
This workshop introduces intaglio printmaking through mezzotint, a centuries-old process known for its rich, velvety tonal range—unlike any other black-and-white medium. Currently experiencing a renewed interest among contemporary printmakers, mezzotint offers a direct and highly tactile approach to image-making.
Participants will work through the full process, from preparing and rocking the copper plate to inking and printing. As a non-acid method of intaglio, mezzotint provides a safer alternative to traditional etching while maintaining a high level of technical and visual sophistication.
The workshop will cover core techniques including plate preparation, rocking, scraping, burnishing, and the use of roulettes, along with printing procedures and ink handling. Emphasis will be placed on value, tonal structure, and the development of imagery through light and dark.
Open to both beginners and more experienced artists, this workshop is ideal for those interested in expanding their understanding of printmaking through a focused, process-driven approach. Participants are encouraged to bring drawings, sketches, photographs, or other source material to work from.
Class Size
Minimum: 6,
Maximum: 12
Materials List:
(download/print PDF here)
Level of Study - INTERMEDIATE
AREA ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE TRAVELING TO ATTEND
For those traveling to Cincinnati to attend this visiting artist workshop, there are many exciting or practical options for accommodations. For a special stay within a mile of Manifest's new facility, we would recommend checking with The Clifton House Bed & Breakfast* (https://thecliftonhouse.com), The Gaslight Bed & Breakfast (https://www.gaslightbb.com), or Six Acres Bed & Breakfast (http://sixacresbb.com). Alternatively, the 21c Museum Hotel is in the heart of downtown just four miles from our location (link). Many other common hotels are within a few miles of our location as well.
*The Clifton House will typically honor a special discounted rate for Manifest workshop participants when rooms are available.
LOCATION: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are hosted at Manifest's new facility at 'M1' in Clifton at 3464 Central Parkway (see map and directions below). Manifest's new facility provides multiple studio classrooms, private lesson space, a darkroom, a film processing room, a state of the art printmaking wing, and a multi-purpose lecture and class meeting space as well as on-site parking, grounds, and exterior spaces in which to relax, discuss, and make art. The studios are outfitted with professional equipment, furniture, and study aids.
Map to Manifest's M1 Studios | Studio Calendar | Darkroom Calendar
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Works by Art Werger
About the instructor:
Art Werger is widely recognized as a master of intaglio printmaking, working primarily in etching and mezzotint. His prints construct cinematic, narrative spaces that position the viewer as an omniscient observer—often from elevated or oblique vantage points—resulting in images that are at once voyeuristic and deeply intimate. Through careful control of tone, Werger builds his compositions from black to white, gradually illuminating both the image and its implied narrative. His work invites interpretation, encouraging viewers to project their own experiences and memories into scenes that remain deliberately unresolved.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Werger has exhibited extensively in national and international venues, receiving over 250 awards. Notable honors include the International Printmaking Prize at the Guanlan International Printmaking Biennial in China and the Grand Prize at the International Mezzotint Festival in Ekaterinburg, Russia. His work is held in major collections including the Smithsonian Institution, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Boston Public Library, among others.
Werger is Professor Emeritus of Ohio University, where he served as Chair of Printmaking and Foundations Chair. Prior to that, he taught for eighteen years at Wesleyan College in Georgia as Division Chair of Fine Arts. He received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin.
Widely regarded as one of the most prolific artists working in mezzotint, Werger has produced over 500 prints in the medium. He continues his studio practice at Cascade Press in Athens, Ohio.
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