Collagraph Printmaking Weekender

Service Description

A collagraph is a print made from a plate that has been constructed rather than traditionally engraved or etched. Materials are glued, layered, textured and manipulated onto a rigid board to create a printing surface. Once inked and run through the press, these textures translate into rich lines, marks, patterns and tonal surfaces. The process can produce both wonderfully detailed intaglio prints and bold, graphic relief prints. Day One — Making the Plates (10-4pm) We’ll spend the first day exploring the possibilities of collagraph construction and creating a collection of experimental printing plates. You’ll be introduced to a range of materials and techniques for building texture and imagery onto your boards. We’ll look at how different surfaces, textures and materials behave when printed, and how to design plates specifically for intaglio or relief printing. You’ll have the opportunity to make several plates, experimenting with: * Layering and collage * Creating line and texture * Building up positive and negative areas * Materials that create different printed effects * Plates designed for intaglio printing * Plates designed for relief printing There will be plenty of opportunity to experiment and develop your own imagery, whether you prefer working from drawings, photographs, collected textures or more abstract ideas. Day Two — Ink & Print (10am-4pm) On the second day, we’ll get inking and printing! You’ll learn how to prepare and ink both intaglio and relief collagraph plates, exploring how the same plate can produce very different results depending on how it is inked and printed. We’ll work with the printing presses to create a series of prints from the plates made on day one, experimenting with different inking techniques, wiping, registration and layering. The day will be about play, experimentation and discovering what your plates can do rather than producing a single finished edition. You’ll leave with a collection of prints and a range of collagraph plates that you can continue experimenting with at home. Who is the workshop for? This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous printmaking experience. Please bring inspiration to work from. All materials provided. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided. Just bring a packed lunch!