NEW GROUNDS Print Workshop and Gallery 

    3812 Central Ave SE #100B Albuquerque NM 87108  (505) 268-8952

 Collagraph     Monotypes   Mezzotints   Photogravure   Relief    Serigraphy     Etching    Lithography

              Return to Home Page

Collagraph

A collagraph is an intaglio technique in which objects (cardboard, fibers, fabrics, organic materials etc) are added to the surface of the plate, usually heavy cardboard, until a low relief is achieved. Front, back and sides of the plate are then sealed with several coats of acrylic matte medium. Once the plate is dry it can be inked, wiped and printed in the same manner as a etched metal plate. Collagraphs can also be printed as relief images, without any ink as a blind embossing. Because the various levels on the plate are so easily achieved, it lends itself beautifully to multicolored and viscosity printing.

Vicki Bolen begins by covering the entire plate with ink using a brayer.

She then uses a heavily starched cheesecloth, or tarlatan, to wipe away the excess ink until only the lower areas of the plate retain ink.

Here is the inked plate.

It is placed upside down on top of the paper which already has some color from a previously applied monotype.

The plate and paper are now run through the printing press with the help of some very young helpers – we always say that even a kid can make prints!

The result! Vicki usually applies a lot more layers to her pieces – this would just be an intermediate state of the image for her.

Photography by Bruce Childs during our October 2009 reception.