🖨️Printmaking Unit 11 – Contemporary printmaking practices

Key Printmaking Techniques

• Relief printing involves carving a design into a block of wood or linoleum, inking the raised surface, and transferring the image to paper (woodcut, linocut)
• Intaglio techniques create recessed lines or textures on a metal plate that hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under pressure (etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint)
  • Etching uses acid to create lines on a metal plate coated with an acid-resistant ground
  • Aquatint produces tonal areas by applying a porous ground and exposing it to acid
• Planographic printing relies on the repulsion of oil and water to transfer an image from a flat surface to paper (lithography)
  • Lithography traditionally uses a limestone or metal plate, but modern techniques include photolithography and waterless lithography
• Screen printing forces ink through a mesh screen with a stencil, allowing for bold, flat colors and layering (silkscreen, serigraph)
• Monotype is a unique print created by painting or drawing on a smooth surface and transferring the image to paper
  • Monoprints are similar but may include repeatable elements like stencils or plates
• Digital printing techniques use computer-generated images and inkjet or laser printers to create prints on various substrates

Contemporary Artists and Influences

• Kiki Smith incorporates printmaking techniques into her multidisciplinary practice, exploring themes of the human body, nature, and mythology
• Damien Hirst has created large-scale woodcuts and etchings featuring his iconic spot paintings and butterfly motifs
• Julie Mehretu combines architectural drawings, maps, and gestural marks in her complex, layered prints
• Takashi Murakami blends traditional Japanese woodblock printing with contemporary pop culture imagery in his vibrant, large-scale prints
• Ellen Gallagher uses repetition, pattern, and appropriated images to address issues of race, identity, and history in her prints
• Christiane Baumgartner creates monumental woodcuts based on video stills, exploring the relationship between digital media and traditional printmaking
• William Kentridge incorporates printmaking techniques into his animated films, drawings, and installations, often addressing sociopolitical themes
• The rise of street art and graffiti has influenced contemporary printmakers, who incorporate stencils, screen printing, and wheat pasting into their work

Materials and Tools

• Traditional printmaking papers include high-quality, acid-free options like Rives BFK, Hahnemühle, and Arches
  • Japanese papers such as Kitakata, Gampi, and Kozo offer unique textures and translucency
• Inks for printmaking are typically oil-based or water-based, with varying levels of viscosity and opacity
  • Akua inks are water-based and non-toxic, making them popular for studio use
  • Caligo Safe Wash inks are oil-based but can be cleaned up with soap and water
• Printmaking presses range from small, portable etching presses to large, motorized lithography presses
  • Takach, Conrad, and Ettan are well-known manufacturers of professional-grade presses
• Carving tools for relief printing include gouges, chisels, and knives made from high-quality steel
  • Flexcut, Pfeil, and Niji are popular brands among printmakers
• Etching needles, burnishers, and scrapers are used for intaglio techniques, while litho crayons, tusche, and gum arabic are essential for lithography
• Screen printing requires a sturdy frame, mesh fabric, and squeegees for pulling ink through the screen
• Digital tools like Wacom tablets, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator are increasingly used for creating and manipulating images for printmaking

Digital Integration in Printmaking

• Digital imaging software allows artists to create, edit, and separate color layers for multi-plate prints
  • Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are widely used for their versatility and compatibility with printmaking workflows
• Large-format inkjet printers can produce high-quality, archival prints on a variety of substrates, including printmaking papers
  • Epson, Canon, and HP offer printers suitable for fine art printmaking
• CNC routers and laser cutters can be used to create precise relief blocks or stencils for screen printing
• Photopolymer plates, exposed using UV light and digital transparencies, offer a faster alternative to traditional etching or lithography
  • Solarplates and KM plates are popular photopolymer options
• Digital printing techniques can be combined with traditional methods, such as printing a digital image onto a screen-printed background or inkjet printing onto a hand-painted monoprint
• 3D printing has opened up new possibilities for creating matrices and combining printmaking with sculptural elements
• Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are being explored as ways to create immersive print-based installations and experiences

Experimental Approaches

• Combining multiple printmaking techniques within a single work, such as a screen-printed image with etched details or a linocut with chine-collé
• Printing on unusual substrates, such as fabric, wood, metal, or found objects, to create unique textures and dimensions
• Incorporating non-traditional materials into the printmaking process, such as collage elements, thread, or organic matter
• Exploring alternative methods of mark-making, such as using power tools, sandpaper, or unconventional drawing implements to create plates or blocks
• Pushing the boundaries of scale, from miniature prints to room-sized installations
• Collaborating with artists from other disciplines, such as dancers, musicians, or poets, to create interdisciplinary print-based works
• Engaging with community and social practice, using printmaking as a tool for activism, education, and public participation
• Experimenting with new technologies, such as conductive inks, 3D printing, or interactive digital displays, to create hybrid print-based works

Conceptual Themes in Modern Prints

• Identity and representation, exploring issues of race, gender, sexuality, and cultural heritage through printed images and text
• Environmental concerns, such as climate change, sustainability, and the relationship between humans and nature
• Political and social commentary, using printmaking as a means of critique, protest, and raising awareness
• Memory and nostalgia, evoking personal or collective histories through layered, fragmented, or repeated imagery
• The digital age, examining the impact of technology on communication, perception, and the nature of the printed image
• Globalization and cultural exchange, reflecting on the movement of people, ideas, and aesthetics across borders
• The body and embodiment, investigating physical and psychological experiences through figurative or abstract printed forms
• Language and text, incorporating written or typographic elements to explore the relationship between image and meaning

Exhibition and Presentation Strategies

• Traditional gallery and museum exhibitions, showcasing prints in frames or vitrines alongside contextual information
• Print portfolios and editions, allowing collectors to acquire a curated selection of works by one or more artists
• Artist books and zines, integrating printmaking with book arts to create narrative or conceptual sequences
• Installation-based presentations, using prints as elements within immersive, site-specific environments
• Public art projects, such as printed murals, posters, or billboards, engaging with communities and urban spaces
• Online exhibitions and virtual galleries, enabling global access to print-based works and facilitating digital sales and distribution
• Collaborative projects and exchanges, fostering connections between printmakers and galleries, publishers, or institutions worldwide
• Print fairs and festivals, providing opportunities for artists, collectors, and enthusiasts to gather, exhibit, and sell works in a dedicated setting

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

• Choosing non-toxic, water-based, or plant-based inks and solvents to reduce harmful emissions and waste
• Using sustainably sourced papers and substrates, such as recycled, FSC-certified, or handmade options
• Implementing green studio practices, like proper ventilation, filtration systems, and waste disposal methods
• Educating oneself and others about the environmental impact of printmaking materials and processes
• Supporting suppliers and manufacturers who prioritize eco-friendly products and packaging
• Exploring alternative matrices, such as solar plates, which minimize the use of toxic chemicals in etching
• Collaborating with environmental organizations or initiatives to raise awareness and funds through print sales or exhibitions
• Considering the social and ethical implications of printed imagery, such as cultural appropriation, representation, and consent
• Ensuring fair compensation and credit for all collaborators involved in the printmaking process, from master printers to assistants and interns