Printmaking is essentially the process of creating an original ‘print’, by transferring an impression from one surface to another. It is not a direct process such as drawing or painting but any method that allows an artist to create an image in one place that is then transferred to another. Printmaking is an exciting art form which at Magenta Sky we are very passionate about.
There are four main categories that the various forms of printmaking fall into – Relief (lino/woodcut, wood engraving), Intaglio (etching, drypoint, mezzotint), Stencil Based (screenprinting) and Planographic (lithography).
Collograph loosely fits into the relief printing category.
1.2 What is Collograph?
Collograph is a simple and very effective form of printmaking that is created by using various types of collage as the plate that you then take a print from.
The collage is created by sticking items onto or cutting into a cardboard printing plate that is then sealed, inked and printed. It is a very flexible relief technique that is good for beginners, but can become very advanced if you develop it further and perhaps think about working with a press for picking out fine details and capturing deeper areas of the printing plate.
It is a great fun and experimental way of creating an image that makes use of the textures of different items contrasted next to each other. You can print more than one collograph from the plate (i.e. produce an edition of prints) and by inking up the plate with different colours or mixing colours on the plate, you can create very differing images from just the one design.
Collograph is a very inexpensive technique due to the found objects, cardboard, PVA glue, various household bits and pieces for the plate that you use.
1.3 About Collograph / Tools and Materials Video
Time: 3.29min
Description: This video introduces what collograph is and lists the tools and materials you will need for this module.
