Background of Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of
making artworks by
transferring images from one
surface to another. This
process is capable of
producing multiples of the
same image. Each print is an
original.
 Common types of printmaking
include: woodblock (wood), screenprinting or silk-screening (fabric),
linotype (linoleum), etching (metal),
monoprinting (single image transfer)
and lithography (stone).
• Prints from a single plate create
an edition. In modern times, each
print is signed and numbered to
form a limited edition.
 Some forms of printmaking have
been used for hundreds of years.
Etching, for instance, has been a
major form of European art since
before the 1300’s. Asian printmaking
began to become a major form of art
in the 1700’s.
 Printmaking has been used for many
purposes: for fine-art as well as
commercial functions (early book and
newspaper illustrations, t-shirt and
fashion designs, product design,
1800’s-1900’s advertising posters,
etc.)
Important Artists to Know
Katsushika Hokusai
(Japanese printmaker, 1760-1849)
–
Hokusai is best-known as creator of the woodblockprint series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji which
includes the iconic and internationally recognized
print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, created
during the 1820s. Hokusai created the "Thirty-Six
Views" both as a response to a domestic travel
boom and as part of a personal obsession with
Mount Fuji.
Utagawa Hiroshige
(Japanese printmaker, 1797-1858)
–
–
–
Legend has it that Hiroshige determined to become
an ukiyo-e artist when he saw the prints of his
colleague, Hokusai. He continued on the tradition of
this style of printing after Hokusai passed away.
It is said that Hiroshige created thousands of prints
throughout his life – even after working only part
time as an artist throughout his career (he also
worked as a firefighter to earn extra income).
Hiroshige’s style was copied many times over, and
he even had two men that called themselves
Hiroshige II and Hiroshige III, after his own death.
Andy Warhol
(American printmaker, 1928-1987)
– Was a central figure leading the movement of Pop
Art in the mid 1900’s.
– After a successful career as a commercial illustrator
and born and raised in Pittsburgh, Warhol became
famous worldwide for his work as a printmaker,
filmmaker and public figure known for his interest in
pop culture, Hollywood, fame, celebrities and public
figures.
– Warhol became known for his portraits of movie
stars, political figures, and his use of everyday
objects as subjects for his artwork (soup cans,
grocery boxes, shoes, etc.).
Printmaking Vocabulary
• Artist’s proof - A print of edition quality, but separate
from the numbered edition that is kept by the artist.
• Block – What is carved into to create a relief print.
• Composite print - A print made from a number of
individual plates combining different techniques or
images in the same print.
• Pull - To make a print by transferring the ink onto paper
either by hand or with a press.
• Relief printing - The image is printed from ink on the
surface of wood, linoleum, or other flat surface.
Nonprinting areas have been cut away.
Steps to Relief Printing
• The artist draws a sketch either on a plank of wood, linoleum, or
other flat surface (block).
• Sharp tools are used to cut away areas of the print block that are to
remain empty or white.
• The raised parts of the block are inked with a brayer.
• A sheet of paper is placed over or under the block.
• The paper or block is then rubbed with a baren or is run through a
press.
• The block is removed from the paper, showing the transferred
image.
• When dry, the artist signs in pencil, as follows:
• Left, under print: title
• Center, under print: AP (abbreviation for Artist’s Proof) or numbered series
• Right, under print: Artist’s signature (usually in cursive)
Printmaking
Works of Art
Anisley
Chris Keegan
Composite print
Hanga Girls
Jade Butterfly Designs
Joseph Richardson
Kim Fink
Lei Li La Loo
Loaded Hips
Press
block
Loving Cup Designs
Oh Joy
Steffi
Viz Art
IB Printmakers
Link available on our blog