Printmaker Notes 25

Collagraph Printmaking

Collagraphy is a printmaking process in which materials are glued or sealed to a rigid substrate such as cardboard to create a plate. A knife or other sharp instrument can also be used to to cut into or score the plate to produced a design or marks. Once inked, the plate becomes a tool for imprinting the design onto paper.

The term “collagraph” was coined by Glen Alps in the 1950’s, and is from the Greek word Koll or Kolla, meaning glue, and graph, meaning the activity of drawing.

There is an endless variety of ways to make a collagraph plate. Materials such as string, fabric, lace, leaves, feathers, and acrylic mediums can be glued to the surface of the plate and also the plate can have designs and textures carved into it, my preferred method.

The ink is rubbed into the surface of the created plate, being pushed into the carved recesses or over the surface of the textured design. Then it is strategically wiped away. The areas with more ink will be darker on the final print than the areas wiped nearly clean. This can give your print beautiful tone.

Here are 4 photos showing a collagraph print of mine from a couple of years ago, the finished and varnished plate, the plate after it was inked and sitting on the press and then two pulled prints. These prints had LOTS of texture.

Here are two more collagraphs of mine to show how different they can look. The flamingo was carved out of cardboard and then cut out so there would be a distinct edge and it also gives the print an embossed edge.

The print with the crow I called “Solus” was made from a recycled tetra pack soup box. They make lovely collagraphs and are a very popular substrate with other printmakers. Ive saved stacks of clean tetra packs waiting for collagraph printing.

Ive been wanting to experiment with different types of cardboard. I save all of it from the backings of watercolor pads and printmaking paper pads. Im trying to find cardboard that is easy to carve into with a knife yet sturdy enough to withstand the pressure from my press. Collagraphs print under fairly heavy pressure.

I’ve been watching my volunteer pumpkins growing from the compost pile and am really enjoying them so I thought I would make it my subject and try out this cardboard i’ve collected.

I started with a simple design on tissue paper and transferred it to my cardboard plate. I used an exacto knife to carve the design into the cardboard. I varnished the plate with three thin coats of Shellac. This seals the cardboard from moisture and gives the plate a slick surface so making the ink easier to rub away. I carved back into the varnish to deepen some of my cuts and then inked the plate.

I experimented with how much ink to apply, what weight of paper to use, how long to soak the paper before printing ( paper must be dampened to help absorb the ink and so the press can push the paper into the grooves to capture the ink there).

All those variables come into play and a lot of bad prints are made and lots of expensive paper is wasted trying to hit on the right combination. This is the only one that I liked. I always learn a lot about collagraphs every time I try one.

Id like to try again using a different brand of ink and more color instead of just black. This was Caligo Safe wash ink by Cranfield. The wonderful ink I use with my Linocut prints. Ive also used Akua on my collagraphs and love the easy cleanup. But the oil based inks really are the most beautiful.

Maybe I’ll give it another go soon.

For now….its back to designing linocut.

August went by in a blur…..I participated in only one Art Market and it took the entire month of August to get ready for it. Im so ready for a change of seasons, some hoodie weather and pulling out the neglected sketchbook for new linocut work!

Thankyou so much for reading and following along on my art journey. If you ever have any questions please feel free to ask :-)

If you’d like to purchase one of my linocut prints, I would be honored, thrilled and very grateful :-)

wishing you all the best,

Meg

Here is a link to my Etsy Shop

Meg T. Justice Art Etsy Shop