Relief and Intaglio Prints

Printmaking is an artistic process where images are transferred from a matrix onto another surface, most often paper or fabric. I pull each of my prints by hand using a press or a barren. Intaglio printmaking requires an image to be etched or incised into the surface of a plate (metal, copper, acrylic plexiglass). Ink is pushed down into the lines before being wiped clean. Then, high pressure from a press forces damp paper into the recesses to pick up the ink. A relief print is made from a softer substrate such as wood, linoleum, or card. The image is carved away and then inked over the surface of a plate using a brayer. Paper is placed on the inked block and pressure is applied by hand (using a baren or spoon) or a printing press to transfer the image. Collagraph printing can incorporate both intaglio and relief inking techniques.Textures from a variety of materials (leaves, sand, glue, fabric, to name a few) are collaged onto or a rigid plate (cardboard, mat board) and then inked and pressed onto paper or fabric. Plates can also be carved into, or torn to give more of an intaglio effect.