The Santa Barbara Printmakers (SBP) is a group of artists dedicated to promoting and producing art work that uses hand and press printing techniques for the purposes of artistic exploration and expression. Images by artists in this group have been made with printing processes that include: etching, monotype, woodblock, collagraph, linocut, clay, lithography and digital programming. Santa Barbara Printmakers provides exhibition opportunities several times a year, as well as printmaking activites in the Santa Barbara area. Its membership encompasses both emerging and established artists. We are an all volunteer organization, supporting ourselves through membership dues and the talents and skills of our artists. The current Santa Barbara Printmakers community evolved from a small group of artists known as the Monotype Guild, who in 1989 started creating one-of-a-kind prints in weekly workshops and occasionally presented exhibits of their work. The membership greatly expanded with the decision to include all types of hand-pulled prints in the group’s annual Open Juried Show, now in its 21st year, and is no longer limited to residents of the Tri-Counties—Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo. Now over 90 members strong and under the guidance of a coordinating committee, Santa Barbara Printmakers maintains a website to promote its members and provides the community of printers with unique workshop opportunities, class offerings and general printmaking education.
