“The Art of Printmaking”
“The Art of Printmaking” Artists and Artist Statements
Thomas Lindell
Thomas Lindell is a retired University of Arizona professor (Molecular and Cellular Biology-36 years). Upon retirement in 2006, he immediately began taking printmaking classes at Pima College. Knowledge of chemistry is useful for printmakers.
I enjoy printmaking because of the challenge of creating 2-dimensional images into an image that reveals tone and depth. Subjects are varied and often have some symbolic or scientific meaning. Numerous images are embossed, printed on a deeply etched zinc plate with damp paper run through the press.
Miri Fleming
A million years ago I took a printing class and discovered the beauty of wood or linoleum cut, monotype and etching. After having worked with paint, pastel, charcoal and more, I Immersed myself in printing. I never know how the image is going to turn up. I don't have much control over the results, so I need to "dialogue" responding to what it's telling me. It's VERY difficult to fix the image that I get with the one that I planned, and this characteristic can be frustrating to those who don't understand that printing is a language different than working with other media. I also enjoy that it's very physical.
With the exception of monotypes the images could be replicated, but for me this is not the main attraction. I still work in other media, but I would say that printing is my favorite one.
Alice Bedard-Voorhees
Alice Bedard-Voorhees is a printmaker and mixed-media artist from Santa Fe. Her formal studies were in poetry, and she has written poetry for years. Her visual works draw from a close observation of nature, a practice from her father, a fierce naturalist. Poetic forms and how the world of stone reveals itself to humans inspire many works. Her print processes include monotype, drypoint, chine colle and collage, and the use of photopolymer plates. She sometimes rolls mineral dust or pieces into the ink. She says the move to work on paper has been an interesting one–because she was used to thinking of paper for the written word, she was reticent to shift to visual works on paper. She finds the print community exciting–there are so many ways artists use the medium.
Laura Cerna
Etching copper plates is my favorite printmaking technique. I have been physically present in the places whose atmosphere and beauty I want to convey through my work. I start by sketching and later use my own photographs as references. Copper plates are first cleaned and degreased, and a resist ground is then applied. I will then draw directly on the plate, making incisions with a special tool. When this has been completed, the plate is then dipped into a tub of ferric chloride for an hour or so. This solution will bite only the incised lines. The plate is then thoroughly cleaned, and the resist is removed. The next step is inking the plate (I use oil-based ink), wiping off excess ink, and then printed on previously soaked BFK printmaking paper. My drawing is done directly on the plate, from right to left. It is challenging, it takes a lot of patience, but being passionate about printmaking is very gratifying.
Ka Fisher
There are many words used to describe specific printmaking moves. The two most common are 'contact' and 'pressure'. these two words are almost never used in the manner intended.
Debby Ricard
Why Printmaking?
There is something cool about using a technique that’s been used for hundreds of years, some of the same techniques used by the masters. Printmaking can be a lot of work and tedious, but the result is so rewarding because you have earned it!
Allyson Armstrong
Printmaking, as it developed in Western Europe hundreds of years ago, was chemically complex, involved detailed carving, exposure to toxic materials, carefully calibrated presses, and years of training. Those options are still available today.
But, nowadays, by combining photography, sketching, tracing, painting, and a multitude of substrates, it is more accessible. I enjoy using gel and plastic plates, soy-based ink, ball point pens, stamps, brushes, and stencils to combine images, shapes, lines, and textures. Never knowing what the result will be is part of the attraction. I always make a mess.
