Collagraph Prints

My Collagraph Prints based on Personal  Collections and Natural Forms often combined together are hand-printed at Oxford Printmakers co-operative (OPC) using a Rochat Etching Press.

I make the Collagraph plates on pieces of thick mountcard by attaching a range of different materials including sandpaper, masking tape, scrunched up Newsprint, shiny parcel tape and wallpapers which create different tonal values and also patterning for certain materials such as the wallpapers. 

Using a soft brush I apply PVA to the surface of the Mountcard for those areas which print as the lightest areas, the 'white' areas you can see in the prints and also use a technique of cutting into the top surface of the Mountcard with a stanley knife. These cut areas will 'hold' the printing ink so print like the sandpaper as the darkest areas, being used to outline objects, add fine detailed lines and separate tonal areas. This cutting process has been an important technique that I've used across all of my Collagraph plates.

Once made and sealed the Collagraph Plates can be inked in Black & White or Colour using oil based etching inks. The colour prints can be combined with a Monoprint which is printed before the Collagraph to create a two layered Print. 

Please scroll down to view more of my Collagraph Prints.