Oaxaca de Juarez: Art Printing Workshop with a Local Artist

Art gets your hands dirty.

Oaxaca’s street prints make more sense after you carve one yourself, and this three-hour workshop gives you that chance in a small, friendly setting. I especially like the hands-on process, from drawing and carving to rolling ink and pulling a print. I also like the chance to work with a local artist and leave with a personal souvenir rather than another shop-bought trinket.

The main thing to plan around is drying time. Your print may need at least a day before pickup, and Sunday closure can turn a Saturday class into a two-day commitment. The class itself costs $34 per person, which is fair for a small-group lesson with materials, an apron, a woodblock, equipment, and several prints.

Key points at a glance

• Three hours of real printmaking: Draw, carve, ink, and print your own design rather than simply watching a demonstration.
• A six-person maximum: The small group allows for individual help with tools, carving depth, and printing technique.
• A useful Oaxaca connection: You learn how printmaking relates to the city’s public art, social movements, and food-sovereignty efforts.
• Several keepsakes: You can take home your carved woodblock and the prints you make, with some sessions producing three prints.
• Beginner-friendly instruction: The artists demonstrate each step and provide patient help, even if you have never carved before.
• Plan for collection later: Drying time can require a return visit at least 24 hours afterward.

Why printmaking fits Oaxaca so well

Oaxaca is full of bold public art. You see painted walls, posters, carved images, and large prints on thin paper throughout the city. It is easy to admire the finished work and miss the labor behind it.

This workshop gives you a practical way to understand that work. You learn that Oaxacan print culture is not just decoration. It has been used to express political ideas, community concerns, food sovereignty, and social movements. The class connects your small piece of art to that larger local tradition.

I like this approach because it gives the activity a reason beyond making a souvenir. You are not simply producing a pretty image. You are learning why printmaking has such a visible place in Oaxaca’s streets and public life.

The workshop takes place inside a gallery in the Teolab complex. The space is also described as a foodlab, innovation center, and training site for young people and others working toward a more humane society. That setting adds some purpose to the class. You are making art in a place linked to local creative and community projects, not in a generic hotel activity room.

Arriving at the Teolab gallery

The meeting point is the indoor gallery within the Teolab complex. Transportation is not included, so you need to make your own way there. The gallery is reported to be a short walk from central Oaxaca, making it fairly easy to add to a day of exploring the city.

The small-group limit is important here. With no more than six participants, the instructor can look closely at your design and carving. That matters because printmaking has a few small traps. Cut too shallowly, and ink may settle in areas you meant to leave blank. Cut too deeply or too widely, and part of your image can disappear.

The room provides the basic tools and equipment, along with water, tea, or coffee. An apron and woodblock are included. You do not need to arrive with a studio full of supplies, though you may want to bring a design idea or rough sketch.

The five steps from idea to finished print

The class teaches five basic stages for creating a print with a social proposal. The exact pace depends on your group and design, but the process generally moves from planning to carving and then printing.

1. Choosing an idea

You begin by thinking about what you want to print. This can be a personal image, a simple symbol, or an idea connected to Oaxaca and its public art.

You do not need advanced drawing skills. A simple design often works best, especially for a first woodblock. Fine details can be hard to carve, and the final print will show the shapes more clearly than the pencil sketch.

One useful tip is to prepare a sketch before arriving. That gives you more time for carving and printing during the three-hour session. You can also make decisions about the image in advance instead of staring at a blank block while the clock moves along.

2. Transferring the design

Your instructor explains how the image needs to work as a print. Remember that printing reverses the design, so lettering and directional images require extra care.

This is where personalized advice helps. An artist can tell you which lines are too fine, which spaces need to be opened up, and how to simplify an image before you begin cutting. Instructors named in past sessions include Fernando, Roberto, Alexa, and Fabiola, with the teaching style repeatedly described as patient and clear.

The class is taught in English and Spanish. That makes the technical demonstration easier to follow for a mixed group, though you should still ask questions if a tool or step is unclear.

3. Carving the woodblock

Carving is the part that requires the most patience. You use the supplied tools to remove the areas that should remain uninked. The raised sections hold the ink and create the image.

You do not need to rush. A beginner can make a successful print, but the block rewards careful work. Pay attention to the depth of your cuts. One practical lesson is to cut away deeply enough so ink does not fill the grooves. This is especially important if your design has narrow gaps or small details.

The instructor demonstrates how to handle the tools and can give you advice as you work. That guidance is one of the strongest reasons to choose a class instead of trying to teach yourself from a short video.

The carving stage can also be relaxing. You sit with a focused task, surrounded by artwork from the collective. It is a welcome change from sightseeing, especially if your Oaxaca schedule has been full of markets, churches, and street wandering.

4. Applying ink and making the print

Once the block is ready, you apply ink and press the image onto paper. This is the moment when the design becomes a real print, and it can reveal problems that were hard to see in the carved block.

The instructor helps you learn how much ink to use and how to position the paper. Small adjustments can make a large difference. Too much ink can fill the open areas. Too little can leave the image faint.

This part of the class also explains why the large prints you see around Oaxaca can look so striking. The finished image may be simple, but the process depends on careful carving, steady inking, and controlled pressure.

You will usually make more than one print. One account of the class noted that participants received three prints, while other information confirms that you can take home the printed artwork and the woodblock. The exact number may depend on the project and session, so ask your instructor at the start.

5. Letting the work dry

Your art is not ready for a suitcase the moment it comes off the press. The prints need time to dry, and pickup may be required at least 24 hours later.

This is the chief scheduling issue. If you have a flexible stay in Oaxaca, the return visit is simple. If you leave town the same evening, you need to ask about collection or shipping before booking. Shipping costs are not included.

A Saturday class needs special attention because Sunday closure was noted as a possible problem. In practical terms, you may need to pick up the work on Monday. Build that into your plans instead of treating the workshop as a quick final-day activity.

What is included, and what you may still need

The $34 fee covers more than admission to a demonstration. You receive access to a local artist, use of quality printing materials, an apron, a woodblock, studio space, and equipment. You also receive personal advice while making the piece.

That package offers good value. Art classes can become expensive once you add tools, paper, ink, and studio access. Here, those basics are provided, and you get a finished object connected to your time in Oaxaca.

Additional materials for projects outside the class are not included. The same applies to transportation and shipping. If you want to create a larger personal project or send your artwork home, ask about the extra cost before you begin.

The most valuable part of the price is probably the instruction. A print can look simple, but the carving and inking require technique. You leave with more than a picture. You understand how the image was built.

Who will enjoy this workshop most

You do not need to think of yourself as an artist. Beginners are welcome, and the instructor demonstrates the process in person. The small group means you can ask for help without interrupting a large lecture.

This is a good choice for you if you:

• Want a creative break from sightseeing
• Prefer making a souvenir to buying one
• Have noticed Oaxaca’s public prints and want to understand them
• Enjoy hands-on activities with a clear finished result
• Have enough time to return for pickup
• Like working in a small group with direct instruction

It also suits experienced artists. The basic class gives you a structure, while more advanced participants can take on harder designs and discuss new projects with the artist.

Families and groups should confirm the needs of younger participants before booking, since no specific minimum age is provided. The activity is wheelchair accessible, which is useful, though you may want to confirm the exact route through the Teolab complex if you have particular access requirements.

The human side of the class

The instructors are a major part of the experience. Names associated with the workshop include Fernando, Roberto, Alexa, and Fabiola. Fabiola was especially praised for her patience with beginners, while Fernando was singled out for his teaching and the creative atmosphere.

The tone seems collaborative rather than formal. Your work joins the collective’s collection, giving the class a shared purpose. You make an individual image, but it becomes part of a wider group effort built around art, community, and local ideas.

That does not mean every participant will produce gallery-ready work. Your first print may have uneven ink or a slightly imperfect edge. That is part of the appeal. Handmade printing has small surprises, and the instructor helps you get a pleasing result without pretending the process is automatic.

What to bring and how to prepare

Bring an idea, even if it is only a rough sketch. A clear, bold image is easier to carve than a complicated scene. You might also think about how the design will look in black and white, since printmaking depends heavily on light and dark shapes.

Wear clothes you can work in comfortably. An apron is provided, but ink-based activities are best approached without your favorite white shirt.

Leave room in your schedule after the workshop. The class lasts about three hours, but pickup can require another visit at least a day later. Do not book it immediately before an airport transfer or a long-distance departure unless you have confirmed how you will receive the artwork.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. Water, tea, and coffee are available, so you can settle into the work without needing to bring refreshments.

Is $34 a fair price?

Yes, for most people. The fee includes instruction, materials, equipment, a woodblock, an apron, and the chance to make several prints. You also support local artists and a community-focused creative center.

The value is strongest if you care about process. If you only want a cheap souvenir, a market print will cost less and take no three-hour commitment. But a purchased image cannot give you the same connection to Oaxaca’s print culture or the satisfaction of making the marks yourself.

The price also compares well with the personal attention. A maximum of six participants is small enough for useful feedback. You are not left to figure out carving depth, ink, or paper placement on your own.

Should you book the Oaxaca printing workshop?

Book it if you want a thoughtful, hands-on activity and can spare three hours plus a later pickup. It is especially worthwhile after you have spent time looking at Oaxaca’s public art, since the class gives those street images new meaning.

Skip it if your itinerary is too tight to collect drying prints, or if you prefer a fast activity with no follow-up visit. Also think twice if you have no interest in making art, since the main reward comes from taking part rather than simply observing.

For most visitors, this is a strong-value experience. You receive patient instruction, a personal piece of Oaxaca, and a better understanding of why printmaking matters here. Bring a sketch, cut carefully, and protect a spare day for pickup. You may leave with three small prints, a carved block, and a new respect for the images covering the city.

FAQ

How long does the art printing workshop last?

The workshop lasts three hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when selecting a session.

How much does the workshop cost?

The price is $34 per person.

Where does the workshop meet?

It meets at the provider’s indoor gallery, located within the Teolab complex.

Is the activity taught in English?

Yes. Instruction is available in English and Spanish.

Is the workshop suitable for beginners?

Yes. Beginners receive demonstrations, guidance, and personalized advice. Experienced participants can also take on more challenging designs and projects.

Can I take my artwork home the same day?

Not always. The prints may need at least 24 hours to dry, so you may need to return later for pickup. Shipping and transportation are not included.

What does the price include?

The fee includes access to a local artist, printing materials, guidance, studio space and equipment, a woodblock, an apron, and water, tea, or coffee. Additional materials for personal projects, transportation, and shipping are not included.