I’m a fan of jigsaws. I like the idea of pieces slotting together to create a whole, of components that complete a picture. I’ve several ideas for printing individual pieces which can be swapped, rearranged and grouped, forming a variety of outcomes.

Last week I spent time in Canberra printing with the amazing Basil Hall in his studio. We were a small group of four working with Basil over three days. It was a perfect opportunity for me to start my exploration into creating and printing multiple pieces.

Basil is a brilliant and professional printmaker. He is very well-known and highly regarded and I value every bit of advice he gives me. Even though I consider myself fairly experienced in creating collagraphs his method results in different visual outcomes to what I would expect working alone in my own studio.

You might ask why results vary when collagraphs are, essentially, always assembled in a similar way: create a low-relief multi-layer matrix, ink it up, wipe it back and put it through a press to transfer the image to paper. However, there are many variables –

• What type of matrix is created? Is the base material (often mountboard) cut into? Are gels and mediums applied to the surface? Will textural aspects retain enough ink? Are materials adhered to the surface?
• How is the matrix sealed?
• What type of inks are used? Consistency? Translucency? Colour mix?
• How effective is wiping away excess ink to create highlights and other effects?
• What type of paper is used and how is it prepared in advance?
• How is the printing press set to achieve optimal results?
• What is the process for drying prints so they remain flat and don’t buckle?

My design pieces were cut from mountboard. The surround was saved for future use.

I chose colours I wouldn’t normally print with; stormy grey, process blue and green. Very cool and moody outcome.

Although this works quite well I felt it needed lifting, so I swapped the green for a red mixed with a tiny amount of black. I also added pale yellow Iwaki paper as chine collé.

The result already appears more interesting. I moved to more earthy colours.

These were a combination of stormy grey, golden sands, green and purple. I’m really happy with how this project is developing.

A change of focus and differing amounts of wiping back. It’s a good start and I’ll continue developing these over time.