Monday 9 May 2011

Collagraph Prints

A few weeks ago I attended a two day workshop at Art Van Go to learn how to make collagraph prints with Kim Major George. It was something I had tried very briefly when doing my teacher training many years ago but we had not really done it properly... I have vague memories of poster paints and tissue paper... not materials to encourage a love of printing! So this was something entirely new to me. The first day we made our printing plates and then on day two Kim brought in her press and we were able to make prints. I chose a trusty design from my sketchbook for my first attempt...

Two attempts with some subtle differences in the ink application.


The following design was based on a Hunderwasser painting and I particularly liked the way the lace printed,


Again a second attempt with the addition of some different colour


And finally a couple of little birds just to try out some different surfaces and ideas.


Kim often adds foils and sparkly bits to her designs and I thought I might like to do that with my two bigger prints - the poppies and the Hunderwasser tree. So I tried it with the tail feathers on these birds first to see what it would look like but decided I didn't like (It didn't show up on the photos so I haven't bothered to upload them) it so I'm not going to mess about with the others.


They are far from perfect, with areas of ink that are a bit splodgy or too heavy but I learned a lot and would love the chance to try some more now that I know how the plates print. But the best bits of all... the actual printing plates themselves...



The Hunderwasser tree is my favourite!

22 comments:

  1. Each of your prints is beautiful Gina - no wonder you are pleased with them. As for the plates - well they are works of art in their own right. Gorgeous textures and beautiful subtle colours.

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  2. I love the prints and the plates - especially the birds. They are quite beautiful!

    Pomona x

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  3. I see what you mean, those plates are fabulous. I too really like the tree one.

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  4. My goodness, is there no end to your talents?!

    I finally booked my place at Art & Stitch on the 21st - I am having great difficulty being patient!

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  5. Super prints and plates Gina so much texture,I love the Hunderwasser tree,something I have not tried but...... we shall see.

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  6. They are brilliant Gina, I love the effects - we must find someone with a printing press!

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  7. Oh, gorgeous. And I'm very interested to read about the process, as I've just bought a collograph print from a suffolk-based artist. (mandy Walden).

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  8. Love the last Hundertwasser tree. The colours are amazing. Thanks very much for answering my queries about the button babes. :o)

    http://underatopazsky.wordpress.com/

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  9. These prints and plates are so beautiful and so well considered and constructed, they make my erstwhile efforts at collagraph look very clumsy. Your plates do look beautiful in themselves with all the shapes and textures.

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  10. Just a thimbleful...

    Lovely Gina, you are so clever! I haven't been to AvG for ages and I do miss it.

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  11. these are great Gina, and I love the plates too - especially the Hunderwasser tree

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  12. Great prints Gina. Like all of us you've fallen in love with the plates as well. I covet mine and then turn them into book covers when I know I won't print from them again. Is this the start of something? Have a look at the work of Dionne Swift who is combining collagraph plates with print and stitch onto compressed felt. This could be a whole new avenue of exploration.... Lesley x

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  13. Wow - and I think I like the plates best too! What will you do with them?

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  14. Your prints are lovely I really like the birds. The tree printing plate is wonderful a work of art in itself.

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  15. That's you "hooked" then.... and now wonder! I love the plates that resulted....

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  16. Oh Wow - do you have more hours in your day than I do!! The tree and the birds are soo good.

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  17. Beautiful! I love the plates too. I attended a couple of terms of a printing course here at the Uni (Herts) on Saturday mornings -- it wasn't really a course in the sense that most people just came in to use the wonderful presses, so I wonder if that's still going?

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  18. Fabulous, I adore your birds! I was on a printmaking course earlier ths year which was cancelled due to teach's injury before we got to the collograph bit (she's slowly getting better & will restart one day!)Seed heads in the garden was my theme & was most interested when catching up with your posts below, in the sketchbook work with poppies from last year, taking it all further.

    All this ramble is to say thanks for those posts & I will return to them & look & learn ;)

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  19. Just gorgeous images and I love the detail. Inspiring.

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  20. even more fantastic than they looked on Facebook!!!

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  21. Oh wow I love these, they are gorgeous. I really want to try to do some different ways of printing and now I really, really want to try it!
    love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  22. That last picture is exquisite. I think you should frame it. Why not? From collograph to collage?

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