Collagraph
The word ‘collagraph’ is taken from the word ‘collage’. Prints are produced from collaged plates with a highly textured surface, resulting in an embossed print.
Firstly, I create a printing plate using textured materials glued onto card. My collagraph plates are created using anything I can find to create texture, from rice and couscous to wallpapers, sand, string, leaves, glue and plaster.
When the plate is dry, I seal it then apply etching inks by hand. I place dampened paper onto the plate and run them through a printing press. The pressure applied by the press transfers the image and surface texture from the plate onto the paper, creating a textured print.
Drypoint
Drypoint is a printmaking technique in which an image is incised in to the printing plate using a pointed 'needle'. These scratches made in the plate will hold ink and create marks on the paper when printed.
Drypoint creates a similar effect to etching, but the lines have a softness created by the 'burr' that forms when the material is scratched in to.
I use a variety of materials to create my drypoint plates including zinc, aluminium, perspex and card.
I apply etching inks to the plate by hand and then use a cloth to remove the excess ink. I place dampened paper on top of the plate and the two are passed through the printing press.