Distinguished Visiting Scholars: Prints on Paper Studio

Nathanael Kooperkamp, a printmaker, papermaker, bookmaker, and teacher, has honed his skills across various mediums. Trained in traditional printmaking, his work spans the history of the art form while infusing it with a digital twist. Kooperkamp’s journey led him to the most rewarding aspect of the art world: collaborative master printmaking. After completing his master’s degree in fine arts at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, he immersed himself in the hand papermaking process at Dieu Donne Studio in Brooklyn.

Later at Cone Editions Press, he supported diverse artists, from idea to final product, using traditional techniques with contemporary technologies to expand the studio’s capabilities. Kooperkamp’s enthusiasm for tradition and collaboration continues at Prints on Paper Studio, where he innovates new processes, honoring the medium’s history while embracing digital advancements.

Walter Blackwell, a collaborative printmaker, teacher, and inventor, has been at the forefront of the digital printing industry since 2004. Specializing in monochromatic inkjet, he coined the term “pigment print” in the early 2000s to describe mechanically produced pigmented inkjet prints. A founder of Black Point Editions (Chicago) and co-founder/funder of Latitude Chicago, Walker has collaborated with renowned artists worldwide to create unique works. He often adapts new printing techniques on the fly to meet the specific needs of artists or prints. As the lab coordinator for Light Work residency in Syracuse, New York, he transformed the space into a modern facility. Later, he became the head innovator in the fine art printing industry. Walker has taught printing techniques for over two decades, both in community workshops, one-on-one sessions, and at the university level. Teaching and learning are integral to his practice as a printmaker and artist, and he continues this tradition at Prints On Paper.