Exploring the Art of Printmaking: Techniques and Examples

Printmaking is a fascinating art form that allows artists to create multiple prints from a single original artwork. This article delves into various techniques, including linocut, serigraph, and anthotype. If you're curious about the process of making linocut prints, you may find this Medium article about my father's work interesting.

Linocut Prints: A Fascinating Technique

Linocut is a relief printmaking technique where a design is cut into a sheet of linoleum or similar material. The block is inked and then pressed onto paper to create the print. Here is an example of a linocut print of Mount Baker in Washington State.

My father's studio is located on Vancouver Island, where he can often see Mount Baker in the distance. This print captures the serene beauty of the mountain and the surrounding landscape.

Serigraph: A Layered Technique

Serigraph, also known as screen printing, is a versatile technique that involves creating a stencil and applying pigments through it. In my case, the stencils were created using cheese cloth, which is a popular material in serigraphy.

Here is an example of a serigraph created with India ink on mylar, reduced using sharpened bamboo sticks. The process involves multiple stencils to achieve the desired layered effect.

Another interesting technique is intaglio, which involves etching the design into a surface such as acrylic glass using a Dremel tool and etching needle. This creates a recessed line that can hold ink, resulting in a raised print when pressed onto paper.

Anthotype: A Simple Photography Technique

Anthotype is a simple and archaic form of photography that uses light-sensitive pigments. Anthotypes can be created using light-sensitive plant pigments, such as beetroot juice, or synthetic pigments like food colouring.

Here's an example of an anthotype I made a few years ago:

The process involves painting a light-sensitive pigment onto a piece of cardboard, placing a cut-out design on it, and then clamping it under a glass plate. Exposing it to sunlight for a few days bleaches out the pigment in areas not covered by the design, leaving a print with areas of original pigment.

Here are a few more examples:

While anthotypes are not archival and the pigments used are not light-resistant, they are a fun and accessible technique for creating unique prints, especially suitable for art projects designed for children.