making collagraphs
collagraph, Undergrowth copyright Vivien Blackburn I came across this collagraph that I did ages ago in a folder - it was languishing there because it wasn't a particularly good print. So I worked on it with coloured pencil and Pitt pen - the coloured pencil takes really nicely on the Fabriano paper in a fuzzy way. I'd shaped the plate slightly in this one, it isn't the plain oblong of the seahorses. For those who don't know, collagraphs are made by cutting, peeling, incising and sticking stuff on to mount/matt card and then printing from it after varnishing it with shellac to protect it. Inking it up with oil based printing inks and as it's an intaglio process it needs a printing press or at least very high pressure to print it. I have thought of experimenting with a flower press but I'm not sure that the pressure would be even enough. I have heard of people putting the papers and printing plate between boards and driving over them - and they assured me it work...