Risograph Zine Retreat
Risograph Zine Retreat
Being Your Own Muse & Character Development
4 Days / 3 Nights · February (Long Weekend)
Dzanc House, Ypsilanti
Join us for a four-day, risograph-centered zine retreat designed for artists and writers interested in personal narrative, character development, and printmaking as process. This intimate retreat offers a balance of guided workshops, shared meals, and generous independent studio time, all within the cozy and creative environment of Dzanc House.
Participants will develop a complete zine project from concept to final, print-ready files, with the risograph woven into the process from the very beginning. Together, we’ll explore how color, layering, repetition, and structure can support storytelling and self-driven work.
This retreat is best suited for artists, writers, illustrators, and printmakers who are comfortable working independently and interested in developing a self-directed project within a supportive group setting.
What’s Included
Four days of guided programming and studio time
Small cohort for focused feedback and peer exchange
Workshops on character development, zine structure, and risograph preparation
Daily communal dinners
Breakfast options for overnight participants
Retreat workbook and prompts
Studio access and risograph preparation support
A completed, print-ready zine project by the end of the retreat
(Lunch is not provided and is up to participants.)
Retreat Schedule (Overview)
Day 1 — Arrival & Orientation
Introductions, studio orientation, generative workshop on being your own muse, and evening zine sharing.
Day 2 — Character & Structure
Workshops on character development and zine pacing, with ample independent work time and optional group critique.
Day 3 — Making & Commitment
Deep studio work, risograph-focused sessions on color and file preparation, and a quiet evening work session.
Day 4 — Finalization & Closure
Final edits, reflection, next steps for printing, and departure by early afternoon.
Participant Options & Pricing
This retreat is offered at a sliding scale to support accessibility. Participants are encouraged to choose the rate that best reflects their access to resources.
Overnight Participants (4 spots)
$350–$425 sliding scale
Includes:
Three nights lodging at Dzanc House
All retreat programming
Daily dinners and breakfast options
Studio access and materials
Retreat workbook and risograph preparation support
Commuter Participants (4 spots)
$175–$250 sliding scale
Includes:
All retreat programming
Daily dinners
Studio access during retreat hours
Retreat workbook and risograph preparation support
About the Retreat
This retreat centers the risograph as a creative tool rather than a final production step. Participants will be encouraged to think about color, layering, and structure as part of their storytelling process, using the constraints and textures of risograph printing as inspiration rather than limitation.
By the end of the retreat, each participant will leave with a finished zine project ready for risograph printing, as well as a deeper understanding of their own creative voice and working process.
Who Should Apply
Artists and writers interested in zines, storytelling, or self-publishing
Printmakers curious about risograph processes
Folks seeking focused time, structure, and community support
Those comfortable working independently in a shared space
No prior risograph experience is required.
Risograph Zine Retreat
Being Your Own Muse & Character Development
4 Days / 3 Nights · February (Long Weekend)
Dzanc House, Ypsilanti
Join us for a four-day, risograph-centered zine retreat designed for artists and writers interested in personal narrative, character development, and printmaking as process. This intimate retreat offers a balance of guided workshops, shared meals, and generous independent studio time, all within the cozy and creative environment of Dzanc House.
Participants will develop a complete zine project from concept to final, print-ready files, with the risograph woven into the process from the very beginning. Together, we’ll explore how color, layering, repetition, and structure can support storytelling and self-driven work.
This retreat is best suited for artists, writers, illustrators, and printmakers who are comfortable working independently and interested in developing a self-directed project within a supportive group setting.
What’s Included
Four days of guided programming and studio time
Small cohort for focused feedback and peer exchange
Workshops on character development, zine structure, and risograph preparation
Daily communal dinners
Breakfast options for overnight participants
Retreat workbook and prompts
Studio access and risograph preparation support
A completed, print-ready zine project by the end of the retreat
(Lunch is not provided and is up to participants.)
Retreat Schedule (Overview)
Day 1 — Arrival & Orientation
Introductions, studio orientation, generative workshop on being your own muse, and evening zine sharing.
Day 2 — Character & Structure
Workshops on character development and zine pacing, with ample independent work time and optional group critique.
Day 3 — Making & Commitment
Deep studio work, risograph-focused sessions on color and file preparation, and a quiet evening work session.
Day 4 — Finalization & Closure
Final edits, reflection, next steps for printing, and departure by early afternoon.
Participant Options & Pricing
This retreat is offered at a sliding scale to support accessibility. Participants are encouraged to choose the rate that best reflects their access to resources.
Overnight Participants (4 spots)
$350–$425 sliding scale
Includes:
Three nights lodging at Dzanc House
All retreat programming
Daily dinners and breakfast options
Studio access and materials
Retreat workbook and risograph preparation support
Commuter Participants (4 spots)
$175–$250 sliding scale
Includes:
All retreat programming
Daily dinners
Studio access during retreat hours
Retreat workbook and risograph preparation support
About the Retreat
This retreat centers the risograph as a creative tool rather than a final production step. Participants will be encouraged to think about color, layering, and structure as part of their storytelling process, using the constraints and textures of risograph printing as inspiration rather than limitation.
By the end of the retreat, each participant will leave with a finished zine project ready for risograph printing, as well as a deeper understanding of their own creative voice and working process.
Who Should Apply
Artists and writers interested in zines, storytelling, or self-publishing
Printmakers curious about risograph processes
Folks seeking focused time, structure, and community support
Those comfortable working independently in a shared space
No prior risograph experience is required.