Three Color PrINKing

Today was the day of three color prints. So after I set out and mixed up my inks again, I began inking all three plates in their specified colors. When it came time to print, the yellow plate was run through the press first, then the red plate, and finally the blue plate. I made three prints in the same manner as the one and two color prints. Then for the next three, I rolled the ink onto the plate, creating a very distinctly different print.

 Inking up a plate.

 The mixed ink.

 First print pulled.

 Running the plates through the press.

Rolled out ink.

The difference between the two printing processes.

The six three color prints.

Two Color PrINKing

After my day of one color prints of all the primary colors, the next day was all about the two color prints. The ink has a ratio of 50% ink and 50% transparent base, so that when two plates are printed on top of each other, there is a crossover in colors, creating the secondary colors.

And this is the goodie goodness that's created! Next comes the three color prints!

PrINKing

Now that my plates are sealed and dry, it's time to print. Now-set up for printing can be a bugger, because it includes tearing down and registering paper, mixing ink, getting all your supplies together. Once all the prep work is done, it's time to print!

My set up for inking/printing.

My plates inked up and ready to be printed, sitting on the press bed, about to be rolled through the press.

My three plates in the primary colors. Next comes the combination prints that'll blend for more awesome colors! Stay tuned!

Matrix Creation

Today marks the beginning of the collagraph process. I cut down my board to size, and I started attaching materials of different weights, textures, and thickness.

 This is a picture of me gluing things to the plate, such as cardstock, index cards, sandpaper, fish net, and playing cards. While this project is an experimentation and explanation of the process, I wanted the information included in the print to be personalized. You'll find out the grit of it all when I post pictures of proof prints and actual prints.

Once I attached everything to the plate, it is ready to be sealed. Sealants that are most commonly used include shellac, mod podge, lacquer, transparent base used in screenprinting.

More pictures to come!

Collagraph

An Elementary How-to:

Before I start creating and printing my collagraph, I wanted to introduce the process in a basic, straightforward way. I will also be posting pictures of the process as I go along.

Collagraphs are a printmaking technique where the artist affixes materials that are thin and textured to the plate or matrix. Once the materials are glued to the plate, the matrix is coated with varnish or acrylic medium, so that the materials are protected from the ink. Some materials used to achieve a variety of texture and depth in the print include: paint, glue, leaves, fabric, cheesecloth, string, thread, rice, tissue paper, and other similar products. An important thing to avoid is attaching anything that is too thick because it can damage the paper or the press when being printed. After the matrix has been prepared, and the varnish has dried overnight, the plate is ready to be printed.

            The printing process for a collagraph is similar to the inking of an intaglio.  Spread the ink onto the plate from the middle to the edges using a scrap of mat board, rub the ink into the grooves using a tarlatan cloth, and then remove excess ink with flat sheets of phone book paper. When the plate has been inked up, it is ready to be printed, place the matrix on the printing press bed, lay the paper on top of it, gently place the blankets over it, and roll it through the press.

So there it is, a simple run through of the process, just so you can begin to grasp the terms and procedure of creating and printing a collagraph. Hopefully along this journey, your comprehension and understanding will develop and you might even be able to do one yourself.

Intro

For my graduate level art content class, I will be researching the history, tradition, processes, and artists of printmaking. I will post favorite artists, inspirational artworks, and focus mainly on collagraphy. As well as creating a blog, I will be printing a book about printmaking and include examples of collagraphy throughout it.

Even if you are not an artist, I hope you'll stop in and read some, at least to look at some wonderful artwork.