Open Studio Dc

Wonderful introductory class for a complete beginner!

Open Studio is an incredible place for artists and incredibly important to the DC art scene. Carolyn is one of the kindest, most patient, and most caring people I have ever met. It’s a great place to take a class — I have been around during a few and all the students leave happy and satisfied and with a great knowledge of how screen printing works. As an artist working there, I have really loved it – it is very pro-​artist and incredibly supportive.
The equipment is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and the people are stellar.

I was accepted into an art show in which I had to screen print 30 posters – but I had no experience in screen printing at all! Luckily, Open Studio was recommended to me by a friend, and I felt like I was in good hands from the moment I started emailing with Carolyn (owner of the studio and practicing printmaker). Carolyn went way above and beyond to accommodate me with my show deadline. She provided great resources and tips on how to set up my design files before I even entered the studio. My class with Carolyn was excellent. She walked me though all of the steps with demos, and provided opportunities for me to try each bit on my own as well.
Open Studios recently moved to a new space on Okie street, and it’s fully equipped with everything you’ll need to print your artwork. I felt relaxed and welcome, and will definitely be returning to do some more printmaking soon!

I took a beginner screen printing t-​shirt class from Carolyn at Open Studio and loved every minute of it! Carolyn was very easy to learn from, causal environment, clear direction and advice. She went above and beyond in answering questions that day but also in days leading up to and after the class. She was so open and receptive to all of my musing, I felt I learned a lot. I am dying to take another class for more advanced techniques. The studio itself is also a really fantastic space. Carolyn hosts all sorts of events and really works hard to foster an artist community in her area.
If there was anything I would change it would only be the pace of the class. We covered a LOT of ground quickly, which was great, I learned a lot, but I would have loved to have gone a little further into detail on a few of the processes/​steps. I think the one thing I really wish I had learned more about (now that I have been printing at home for a few months) is different emulsions and their uses. I’ve had a lot of trial and error as I was unable to find the emulsion that Carolyn used in her class demo.
But again, I loved this class so much and walked away very inspired, so much so that I bought a beginner t-​shirt screen printing set up online!
I look forward to taking another class at Open Studio in the near future.