Block Carving & Stamp Making Workshop
This workshop is a fun and accessible introduction to the art of relief carving and printmaking. Perfect for beginners, you’ll learn how to carve a 2 x 2 inch rubber block to create a unique, reusable stamp design.
You’ll be guided through the basic tools and materials needed, learn safe and effective carving techniques, and discover how to use stamp pad ink to bring your design to life. While we won’t be editioning prints in this class, you’ll leave with a custom stamp that you can use again and again on cards, packaging, and more.
The workshop also includes a brief demonstration of traditional block inking techniques using brayers and printing ink, offering a look at how this process can evolve with more practice.
Rubber stamp carving is an approachable, creative skill that opens the door to personalized stationery, gift tags, and handmade artwork.
Provided Materials:
2 x 2 inch rubber blocks
Carving tools
Stamp pad ink
Practice paper
Optional Items to Bring: Snacks and drinks, Sketches or ideas for your stamp design (or choose from our design collection), Personal carving tools (if preferred)
Come get creative and explore the basics of block carving in a relaxed, supportive environment!
Ages 16 and up
$45
Sign up here!
About the Instructor:
Toby Penney is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. Her practice draws inspiration from the beauty of everyday objects and fleeting moments, inviting viewers to appreciate the often-overlooked details of life. A graduate with a B.F.A. in Sculpture from Middle Tennessee State University, Penney has also completed an intensive Vitreography internship at Harvey K. Littleton Studios, where she studied under Master Printmaker Judith O’Rourke.
Penney’s work has been widely recognized, with recent exhibitions in Tasmania and Melbourne, Australia, as well as solo shows in Tennessee Wesleyan University, Atlanta, Georgia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is a two-time recipient of the Denis Diderot AIR Grant, which supported her residencies at Chateau Orquevaux in France. Her work has also been prominently featured on the covers of Professional Artist Magazine and Hellbent Magazine, among other publications.
In addition to her studio practice, Penney is deeply committed to fostering creativity in others. She serves as an art instructor, creativity coach, and mentor to emerging artists through her Roaming Studio program. Penney actively engages with the global arts community and is passionate about building connections with fellow creatives. Alongside her artistic career, she enjoys sharing her studio space with her sculpture-loving daughter and traveling with her author partner to further ignite creativity and inspiration. You can follow her on social media via @TobyPenney.