Basic Artistic Screen Printing Course

A working artisan laboratory in Venice is a rare way to experience the city, because you are not just looking at art. You are learning how an image becomes a multi-color screen print, one layer at a time, in an active studio.

I really like that the instruction comes through the Fallani family tradition, with Gianpaolo Fallani carrying forward the passion his father Fiorenzo developed over decades, including work with more than 200 artists and more than 1,000 editions. It feels serious in a good way.

You will also enjoy the hands-on part: you make a 3-color print with colors you choose, and you take home 4 prints you produced yourself. The main drawback is simple, this is a workshop, not a tour of sights, so if you want maximum wandering time through canals and piazzas, you should plan around the 2.5 hour art session.

Key Highlights to Know Before You Go

Fallani Venezia has been active since 1968, so you are stepping into a studio that has done serious printing work for a long time.

You learn the multi-color process, including how a graphic work develops into separate layers.

You create a 3-color artwork together with your instructor, not just watch from the sidelines.

You choose your own colors for a Venetian palace design, which makes the finished print feel personal.

You take home 4 prints made by you, so you leave with physical souvenirs, not just photos.

Small-group energy is possible, since the class is private for your group and some visits can be extremely intimate.

Welcome to Fallani Venezia, a Screen Printing Lab in the Heart of Venice

This is one of those Venice experiences that makes the city feel more human. Venice can be all stone, boats, and beauty from a distance. Here, the focus is on craft in motion, where you learn how art turns into ink and paper through a screen and careful alignment.

Fallani Venezia is an artisan laboratory that has been active since 1968. The shop is tied to a family legacy. Gianpaolo Fallani carries that forward from his father, Fiorenzo, who collaborated with over 200 artists and created more than 1000 editions. If you care about authenticity, that matters. You are not paying for a one-off “craft demo.” You are paying to learn a technique inside a working studio tradition.

The vibe is also practical. Your lesson is structured around the actual creation of prints. You will see examples made in the studio, and then you will make your own 3-color print. That means you understand what you are doing, instead of just leaving with a finished product and no sense of how it happened.

How the 2.5 Hour Course Works, Step by Step

The class lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes. It is designed so that you can learn the basics of screen printing and then apply them right away. You start with an introduction to artistic screen printing and how multi-color images are built and refined.

In screen printing, the key idea is separation. A multi-color image is usually produced in layers, with each color handled through its own screen. The goal is not just color, it is control: consistent ink coverage, clean edges, and the ability to see how each layer changes the final look.

During your session, you will:

• Learn how a multi-color graphic work is born and developed
• See many works produced by the studio
• Work together to print a 3-color design

Even if you have never held a squeegee in your life, the lesson is set up to get you to the “I actually did this” stage quickly. That is the value of this course. It gives you enough structure to move past confusion and into decision-making, especially around color.

Your Studio Tour Moment: Seeing Prints Before You Print

One part I always appreciate in workshops is the “show me first” step. You will see many works made by the studio, which gives your brain something concrete to connect to the technique.

It also helps you understand what makes printmaking feel different from digital art or painting. In printing, small choices become visible quickly: density of color, how transparent or opaque a layer appears, and how edges land on the paper. The examples you see before you begin give you a preview of how those choices look in the real world.

This matters because the class is not only about pressing ink. It is also about reading the process. Once you have seen what successful outputs look like, you can make better decisions when you get to your own colors and background choices.

Printing a 3-Color Work in a Venetian Palace Design

Here is where the experience gets specific, and why it is more interesting than a generic souvenir workshop. You will print a Venetian palace-themed design, and you will choose the colors you like best.

Then you will help create the 3-color print together in the studio. The instructor guides the process, but you are actively part of the work. You are not just selecting a template and stamping. You are doing the screen printing steps that create the layered result.

Choosing colors is not a small task here. In one visit, the hardest part was simply picking colors, because the instructor encouraged trying different combinations on different backgrounds. That feedback is valuable because it tells you what to expect mentally: you will probably spend time making decisions, not rushing through.

Also, remember that in multi-color screen printing, your first color layer affects how the next layers will read. Even a color you think you picked confidently can shift in appearance once overlapped with another ink. That is part of the learning, and it is part of the fun.

Picking Inks Like an Artist, Not Like a Tourist

This is one of the best parts of the workshop. You get to choose colors you like, and you get to see how those choices look when the layers come together.

Color mixing is a big deal in any form of art. Screen printing adds another layer of reality, because inks behave differently on paper depending on how they are layered. The studio lesson focuses on how multi-color works develop, so you start understanding that the final look is not only about the palette. It is about sequence, opacity, and alignment.

If you tend to second-guess yourself, don’t worry. The teaching style is described as extremely patient. That is what you want in a hands-on class, especially one that depends on careful steps. You can take your time, test ideas, and end up with choices you genuinely like.

And if you do know what color mood you want, you will enjoy it more. You get to translate taste into a print that looks like it belongs in your home.

What You Take Home: Four Prints You Actually Made

The souvenir here is the real deal: you take home 4 prints made by you.

That is a strong value point for a few reasons. First, it is not just one “demo” piece. You leave with multiple outputs from your session, so you can keep one, gift one, and still have a couple to show off.

Second, it is proof of skill. A print you made in a screen printing lab carries a story. You can explain what you learned, what choices you made, and why your layers look the way they do. It is a more meaningful souvenir than something mass-produced with a Venice skyline on it.

Lastly, it is practical. In a city full of fragile items and high prices, being able to leave with art you created, in a manageable package, is a win.

Price and Value: What $207.07 Covers

At $207.07 per person for about 2.5 hours, this is not the cheapest Venice activity. But the price makes sense once you think about what you receive.

You are paying for:

• Private group instruction (only your group participates)
• Studio access and a guided multi-color printing workflow
• Hands-on help creating a 3-color artwork
• Materials and printing execution
• Four finished prints made by you

In other words, you are not just paying for “time.” You are paying for the expertise and the production process. Printmaking is inherently technical, and the quality is driven by hands-on control. A workshop like this also gives you something that is hard to replicate alone, because the studio tools and setup matter.

If you are already thinking, I want one creative thing in Venice that I can’t easily copy at home, this is the kind of experience that fits. If you are only looking for a light, passive activity, the cost may feel harder to justify.

Logistics That Affect Your Day (Without Making It Stressful)

This class is based at Fallani Venezia in Cannaregio, address: 5001/A, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy. It starts there and ends back at the meeting point.

It includes a mobile ticket, and it is near public transportation. That is useful because Venice days can be a bit of a puzzle, and you want your plan to be flexible.

One more planning note: on certain dates, visitors staying outside Venice who are visiting for the day may need to pay a €5 access fee. For details and exemptions, you can check https://cda.ve.it. If you are doing a day trip, this is worth confirming before you lock in your schedule.

As for group size, it is private for your group. If you go on a quieter day, you might get more individual attention, and that can make a big difference when you are learning a process step by step.

Who This Workshop Is For (and Who Might Prefer Something Else)

This works best for people who want a hands-on art experience and enjoy learning by doing. If you like color, design, photography-to-print translation, or just making things with your hands, you will feel engaged from minute one.

It also suits:

• Couples and friends who want a shared creative project
• Travelers who are tired of only museums and monuments
• People who want a take-home souvenir with real meaning

Kids under 18 can participate only with a paying adult. That means families should plan with an adult’s participation in mind.

The one group that might struggle is travelers who want purely sightseeing time. This is time inside a printing lab. It is not a slow stroll through Venice’s landmarks. You will leave with art, not a list of sights.

The Bottom Line: Book It If You Want Craft, Not Just Photos

If you are choosing between another museum visit and a creative workshop, I would lean toward this one. The reason is simple: you learn something that changes how you see art. You understand the logic behind multi-color prints and you get to make one yourself.

Book this workshop if you:

• Want a memorable, personal souvenir made in-studio
• Like learning technical art processes
• Care about patient, attentive instruction

Skip it if you:

• Want a sightseeing-focused Venice day
• Don’t enjoy hands-on work
• Feel put off by the idea of spending time choosing colors and making decisions

FAQ

Where is the Basic Artistic Screen Printing course in Venice?

The class meets at Fallani Venezia, Cannaregio 5001/A, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy, and it also ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the course last?

The duration is about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is this a private tour or shared class?

It is a private tour or activity, and only your group will participate.

What will I make during the workshop?

You will learn about artistic screen printing, understand how a multi-color graphic work is developed, and then create the printing of a 3-color work.

How many prints do I take home?

You take home 4 prints made by you.

Can children attend?

Children under 18 can only participate with a paying adult.

How soon will I get confirmation after booking?

Confirmation is received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Do I need to pay an additional Venice access fee?

On certain dates, some day visitors staying outside Venice may be required to pay a €5 access fee. Check https://cda.ve.it for the applicable dates and exemptions.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is offered. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Cancellation less than 24 hours before the start time is not refunded.