
This spectacular two week program offers the opportunity to live and create in Florence, Italy, a cultural capital of Europe. As the home of the Italian Renaissance and the birthplace of the modern world, Florentines championed democracy, science, literature as well as painting, sculpture, and architecture. The Tuscan countryside offers rolling landscapes, pastoral farms, vineyards, and medieval towns clinging to the hills.
Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) is a fantastic facility to use as a home base with all that is needed to experiment and evolve in the creative process of image making. The facility has five intaglio presses, two exposure units, an alternative dark room dedicated to printmaking, and plenty of lockers and flat files for workshop participants. The digital area is well equipped with a 13 inch printer, and Apple computers. SRISA is located in the heart of Florence within a short walking distance to just about everything – the Duomo, the Uffizi Museum, the Accademia, the Mercato Centrale, Santa Croce, and dozens of fabulous restaurants.
COURSE OFFERING
Monotype, Collage, and ImageOn/Solarplate
This workshop focuses on mixed media printmaking. Using Akua non-toxic water-based inks, participants of all levels will learn monotype through various methods of mixing, modifying, layering inks, using and abusing mark-making tools, and exploring the limits of paper. Instruction includes a wide range of uses for chine colle, collage, and drawing. ImagOn and Solarplate will be taught, both as means in themselves and integrated with other techniques. Photoshop will be introduced to help artists learn the basics of photo digital imaging and how to apply it to Imagon, Solarplate, and collage. Multi-plate printing methods will open the door to endless possibilities.
The emphasis is on the “Artist as an Inventor,” and each participant is encouraged to stretch his or her methods of expressing and breaking barriers into new and uncharted territory. The information presented is cumulative, and participants will have the opportunity to revisit works developed over the course of two weeks. The workshop will culminate with an informal critique and discussion to serve as closure and celebration on the final day of class. If you have any questions regarding this course please contact Ron Pokrasso, pokrasso@gmail.com or have a look at the website, www.ronpokrasso.com.
For the 2023 workshop we will also have the assistance of Devin Kovach. Devin was our workshop assistant in the 2014 Florence program. Since then he has headed up the printmaking department at the Temple University program in Rome. After 8 years teaching in Rome and shaping the printmaking department, Devin will be even more prepared to offer instruction, assistance and his own points of view while consulting with you and your project needs. In essence you will be benefitting from the guidance of two highly qualified instructors.
THE PROGRAM
The program includes 10 days of instruction beginning May 8 and ending May 21 with a minimum of 60 contact hours, the use of the studios from 9AM to 10PM throughout the program, access to the printmaking digital lab, various tools and equipment, (including presses and exposure units), and most printmaking materials such as Akua inks and modifiers as well as ImageOn film. Participants traveling from the U.S. should plan on supplying their own Solarplates- Additional Solarplates will be available for purchase on- site. Paper can be purchased as well during the workshop. Participants have access to wifi. The schedule is as follows: 4 days of instruction, 2 days off, 3 days of instruction, 2 days off, 3 days of instruction. Participants can work in the open studio on the off days or take the time to explore the City and Region. The program includes a festive welcome dinner, a half-day guided walking tour of Florence, a full day excursion to Siena, an historical/ cultural lecture delivered by SRISA”s faculty and a farewell dinner and celebration.
TUITION
The tuition for the 2023 program is $2250. A $500 deposit (fully refundable until Feb 15, 2023 – less Paypal fee if applicable) is requested to confirm your participation and hold a spot. Pay a deposit online below or Contact me to confirm your interest and then send a check to:
Ron Pokrasso, 1417 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM, 87505.
Tuition balance is due March 1, 2023.
Housing info will be forthcoming.
TRAVEL
Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Florence. It is a good idea to make plans to arrive a few days before the beginning of the program to help acclimate to the culture and time difference. Unless other arrangements have been made, housing options are available for check in one or two days before the beginning of the program
PROGRAM INFORMATION, REGISTRATION, HOUSING and PAYMENTS contact:
Ron Pokrasso
1417 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505 577 6296
pokrasso@gmail.com
www.ronpokrasso.com

MONOTHON Santa Fe 2023
is a community-based event organized to benefit artists, print shops, the Santa Fe Community Gallery and the local, youth arts non-profit, Partners in Education, through the creation and sale of one-of-a-kind monotype artworks and the generosity of the Santa Fe community.
It’s a Win, Win, Win!
Artists find sponsors. Sponsors find artists.
Once an artist / sponsor pairing has been established register and schedule your artist session.
Sponsored artists work in 5-hour, fully assisted monotype printing sessions in my Galisteo Street Studio or in one of 5 other local print shops. At the conclusion of each session 1 work is chosen to be exhibited and sold at the Monothon exhibition, April 22-May 26 at the Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 W Marcy Street.
An exclusive Monothon Gala for Sponsors, Artists and Printers takes place Friday, April 21 from 5-8pm.
Get involved with this fun event and great cause by participating as an artist or a sponsor.


Ron Pokrasso’s approach to monotype in combination with chine collé/collage and drawing will open your eyes and working process to a whole new range of possibilities. Using Akua non-toxic products, participants will utilize an array of techniques for Monotype Printmaking. Participants will learn how to think in layers to print on dry paper with several plates and surfaces, putting emphasis on perfecting multiple plate registration and long term planning of prints. Pokrasso’s unique approach interspersed with art making philosophies makes this an intensive, enriching, eco-friendly week-long art immersion. As a primer for MONOTHON 2022 this workshop is great for beginners as well as a perfect tune-up for experienced monotype artists.
Consider including a fully assisted Monothon session following your workshop experience. Ron will be assisting artists on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 1 and 2. Contact Jackie or call 203 899 7999 to sign up for Oct 1 or 2 sessions.
In addition all fully registered participants for Mastering The Monotype will receive a small original Ron Pokrasso print.

Using monotype as a primary mark making technique this 5 day workshop focuses on the use of many plates and collage elements to create richly layered compositions. Rather than trying to compose on just one surface you will learn how to think in layers where many options become available in one or more impressions. While a monotype plate is in progress you may decide to incorporate a background plate and perhaps a collage element or even an ImagOn or Solarplate. By having numerous surfaces to work from your options become endless and the mixing and matching of imagery has the potential to move you into very exciting new directions. This fully instructional workshop is suitable to all levels of experience and runs 9-5 each day with a lunch break. Additional open studio work time is included after instruction Monday – Thursday.
workshop is limited to 6 participants
$950 plus paper, specialty plates and tax.
To register, contact me first to see if there is space and then send a non-refundable $100 check to:
Ron Pokrasso 1417 Galisteo Street Santa Fe, NM 87505
or use the Add To Cart button below to register immediately.

Ron Pokrasso’s approach to monotype in combination with chine collé/collage and drawing will open your eyes and working process to a whole new range of possibilities. Working with Akua non-toxic inks and modifiers, participants will be guided through registration techniques, perfect multi-plate registration and enjoy the immediacy of revising works in progress. Artists will learn how to think in layers with several plates and surfaces providing opportunities to move into exciting new directions.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE WORKSHOP all participants will also receive a fully assisted Monothon printing session with Pokrasso as your Master Printer. Building on the lessons and imagery from the previous 3 days you will create up to 10 works under Ron’s watchful eye and expert guidance. At the completion of the 5-hour MONOTHON session, one piece will be chosen for the Monothon auction/sale to benefit CCP.

Ron Pokrasso’s approach to monotype in combination with chine collé/collage and drawing will open your eyes and working process to a whole new range of possibilities. Working with Akua non-toxic inks and modifiers, participants will be guided through registration techniques, perfect multi-plate registration and enjoy the immediacy of revising works in progress. Artists will learn how to think in layers with several plates and surfaces providing opportunities to move into exciting new directions.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE WORKSHOP all participants will also receive a fully assisted Monothon printing session with Pokrasso as your Master Printer. Building on the lessons and imagery from the previous 3 days you will create up to 10 works under Ron’s watchful eye and expert guidance. At the completion of the 5-hour MONOTHON session, one piece will be chosen for the Monothon auction/sale to benefit CCP.

Ron Pokrasso’s approach to monotype in combination with chine colle’/collage and drawing will greatly enhance your working process with a whole new range of possibilities. Using Akua non-toxic products you will learn numerous methods of working with inks and tools. You will be guided through registration techniques to be able to use multiple plates with perfection. Using dry paper you will enjoy the immediacy of reprinting the surface and the ease in coming back to works in progress. You will learn how to think in layers with several plates and surfaces giving you the potential to move into exciting new directions. Pokrasso’s unique approach illustrated with concise demos and interspersed with art making philosophies makes this an intensive, enriching, eco-friendly, five-day art immersion. This workshop is great for beginners as well as a perfect tune-up for experienced monotype artists.

Due to Covid-19 this workshop has been canceled. A future date has yet to be determined.
This workshop combines the painterly process of monotype with chine colle/collage and drawing to create mixed media prints. An overview of the basic monotype processes will be demonstrated and then with the chine colle / collage process you will learn how to integrate old drawings, rice papers, found materials, digital images, etc into your compositions. This eco friendly workshop using Akua waterbased inks and non-toxic adhesives is a perfect follow up to the monotype workshop but can also be taken as a single program. It is suited to all levels of experience