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Tag Archives: Collagraphs
Project: Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose
I’ve seen quite a bit in the media about fast fashion; sales volumes generated by the fashion & manufacturing sectors, poor quality products designed with a very short life-span to encourage more purchasing, huge quantities of clothing going into land … Continue reading
Collagraphs: Shards project
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 … Continue reading
Project: Stratification
Earlier this year I posted some experimental collagraph plates (here and here) in anticipation of creating a larger finished work. In 2021 I worked on a print called ‘Hidden Vessels’, shown left, which never made it to this site as … Continue reading
Collagraph ‘Looking Up’ framed
I recently dropped several of my prints at the framers and they’re gradually coming back to me beautifully finished. What a difference a frame makes! Claire Brach, Looking Up, oil-based inks on 250gsm BFK Rives, 2022
More collagraph experimentation
In January I made a plate which didn’t print terribly well, very dark and lacking detail. In February I reprinted it in a different colour range and was much happier with the result. The aim was to see how a … Continue reading
Simplifying collagraphs
In September 2017 I attended a workshop where I created several collagraph and drypoint plates, supposedly designed to be printed together. The plates have been stored since then as I was never 100% happy with the results and didn’t really … Continue reading
Collagraph ‘Journey’ – experimentation
During the 5 day residential collagraph course I attended in January I created several plates and today I’m showing one that was made as a trial for a larger piece of work. I started by cutting away 2 sections from … Continue reading
Brain Clutter: New experimentation
It was late 2021 when I started this project and posted my first Brain Clutter series collagraph (see here) and I’ve been keen to return to the theme ever since. Last week, at a 5 day residential collagraph workshop I … Continue reading
Print commission: Piece 2
Last week I attended a 4 1/2 day collagraph workshop and created 3 new plates. I decided to try one of them on the handmade Hemp paper I’ve been sent to experiment printing with. The first piece I printed for … Continue reading
Collagraph: Scribbles – Part 2
Several weeks ago I created a new collagraph plate which I decided to use as a swap project print. I blogged about the trials here. This week I’ve completed a series of 13 – 12 to swap and 1 for … Continue reading
Revisiting a collagraph
Back in 2017 I attended a very good and frantically busy workshop exploring a range of printing methods. During the course we each constructed a collagraph plate, Shellacked, then inked and printed them. This was mine: On the left is … Continue reading
2022 10 27 Image of the week
I came across this amazing collagraph on the facebook group Collagraph world wide which I’m a member of. I’ve done a little with silk aquatint but haven’t explored it this far. Now it’s definitely on my to-do list. The artist, … Continue reading
Collagraph: Scribbles
Exploring new techniques to create plates I got my mini drill out and, using a fine tip, applied it to the surface of a piece of mountboard. The aim was to produce a range of organic imprecise lines as opposed … Continue reading
Collagraphs with handmade paper
I’ve long been told that it’s difficult to print intaglio on unsized handmade paper, so it was time to give it a go. I always print on quality cotton rag paper, usually 250gsm BFK Rives, so my failures can be … Continue reading
Collagraph: cutting and arranging
Several years ago I printed a series called ‘Other Worlds’ and I’ve now repurposed one of the original collagraph plates. My favourite print from the plate looked like this: I started by cutting the plate into pieces and sealing the … Continue reading
Brain Clutter: Plate 1
New project I’ve had a lot going on recently and have felt a little overloaded with thoughts, conflicts and noise – all internally. My new project, being created as an extension of my recent collagraphs, aims to document some of … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made – progress
I first showed this print plate in October where I discovered the issue of using Shellac that had been made for a while and then shaken to remix. Tiny particles had hardened and subsequently transferred to the plate and printed … Continue reading
Collagraph: Lines & Boxes
I’m enjoying exploring new collagraph materials and these 15cm square bases give enough space to quickly create small unified pieces. Stage 1 For this plate I started with varnished mountboard which I lightly sanded to get a roughened surface. Lines … Continue reading
Collagraph: continuing Hexagons
I really enjoyed making this plate and the resulting prints I showed in an earlier blog, so I’ve continued with some colour experimentation. I’ve moved from the warmer sepia, red and orange/yellow hues into a much cooler set of colours; … Continue reading
Collagraph: Hexagons
My new collagraph comes as a result of further experimentation leading from my ‘Man-made’ project in October. The strata has been constructed using a variety of media including, from left to right, Akua carborundum gel, several layers of torn handmade … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made
Using minimal materials; essentially mountboard, a couple of pieces of lightweight paper and some adhesive foil, I built a low-relief multi-layered collagraph plate. I cut into a few areas, removing the mountboard surface, thereby encouraging the ink to ‘grab’ the … Continue reading
Gel plate collagraph printing
I recently read an article describing the technique of pressing collagraph plates into an inked gelli plate surface, followed by pulling the print from the gelli plate – not the collagraph. In essence, a transfer print. My normal printing routine … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Gelli plate
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Docking Station collagraph: Connectivity project
This week I created a new collagraph plate using an idea that has been floating around in my head for a while now. I’m a bit of a fan of science fiction and fantasy films. I’ve always liked images of … Continue reading
More Collagraphs: Connectivity project
I’ve revisited a few of my favourite old collagraph plates and reprinted them as part of my ongoing Connectivity project. I’ve always enjoyed jigsaws and these prints are made from a selection of small collagraph plates abutted to create that … Continue reading
Collagraph printing: Connectivity project
I haven’t posted any of my prints for a while. With a new tutor in the studio, an introduction to different ink-related mediums, and a new array of printing advice/guidance, it’s taken me a while to find my feet and … Continue reading
New Japanese stab bound book
With much of my home under tarpaulins whilst we renovate, I’ve scant access to my printing, paper-making and book-making materials but managed to rustle up a set of old collagraph plates to re-use last week. With a book project in … Continue reading
2019 04 02 Image of the week
Other World series. Not the greatest picture but they are hanging in a partially shaded area on a narrow wall, so it’s the best I can do. Better photos of the individual pieces can be seen in earlier posts. That … Continue reading
Design Play: Exercise – collagraph abstraction
I’ve moved away from the source book I was using for my exercises and am following my own direction. The book helped a lot when I was a bit lacking in creativity but now I’m back up and running I’ve … Continue reading
Collagraph prints: Other World – final print plate
This plate has printed with excellent definition. If you read my last blog post you will appreciate the beauty of the marks but the boring outcome of the overall plate. For those of you learning about collagraphs this demonstrates how … Continue reading
Collagraph tutorial – part 2
I’ve now printed the final plate for my Other World series which I prepared and wrote about on March 11th and it’s come out very well, but there is a point I wish to stress about this kind of printing … Continue reading
Collagraph prints: Other World – initial selection
Very pleased with how some of my prints have been coming out. A few more to go, and a new plate yet to print, so I have a choice of which ones I’ll use for my final selection. Like the … Continue reading
Design Play: Exercise 5 – Textures – Part 3
‘Other World’ Print Plates In my post of 16th February I created my first 3 collagraph print plates for this series + 2 masks. Here are plates 6 & 7, the final ones for this body of work. PLATE 6 … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Design experiments
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Collagraph tutorial
Today I’m reviewing collagraph printing and how to get a variety of effects. This is both for my own reminder and as a permanent record I can refer to in the future. If it’s useful for anyone else than that … Continue reading
Design Play: Exercise 5 – Textures – Part 2
‘Other World’ Print Plates In my post of 18th January I looked at both internal and external textures with a view to planning my Other World project print plates. The aim is to produce several small prints to be mounted … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Design experiments
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A little collagraph printing
Even though my Linear Containment book was fully completed and assembled earlier in the year I still have an itch to print the final plate in a different colourway and then perhaps stitch into it. The original print looked like … Continue reading
Posted in My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Linear Containment, Printing, printing plate
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Printing the new plate
Further to my last post, where I started creating my new collagraph plate (without the large cut away areas), once the Mod Podge solution dried I slashed into the plate surface, glued on some thin cardboard shapes and added some … Continue reading
Posted in My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Linear Containment, Printing, printing plate
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Printing collagraphs: The next stage
In my last post I talked about the necessity of understanding the type of paper you’re using to print on, depending on the print method. So, seeing as I still need a few prints on lightweight paper, and I’m using … Continue reading
Posted in My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Linear Containment, Printing, printing plate
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The four ‘P’s of Printing
Loving my latest printing project although all is not going to plan. But isn’t that the beauty of printing? The serendipity of result when peeling back the printed sheet from the print plate? The unexpected joy or frustration at seeing … Continue reading
Posted in My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Linear Containment, Printing, printing plate
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Continuing printing collagraphs
I’ve managed to squeeze in enough time for another couple of prints in my collagraph series. So far I’ve done 2 trials (posted here) and here are the next 2: Trial 3: Trial 4: So much better ink coverage than … Continue reading
Drawing challenge over! Moving on ……
OK, so I only managed to draw on 10 out of 28 days in February. I should be feeling like a failure, but I’m not. This is more drawing in a month than ever before, so I’m at least on … Continue reading
Carborundum & Drypoint Printing: Experimentation
In September I did a marvellous 2 day workshop with Brenda Tye and produced a collagraph plate (and print) I was very happy with (amongst a few others I wasn’t so keen on). This was my initial print: Since then … Continue reading
Printing: Collagraphs
A couple of years ago I did an amazing collagraph workshop with Jet James. Read more about it and see some of my prints here. Time has passed and I’ve done many more things since then but I’ve always had … Continue reading
Tree theme: Collagraph Plate 1
Recently I spent a day photographing trees and plants in the botanic gardens. I’m contributing to an exhibition to be hosted in the gardens in June and wanted to get a feel for the area. Although I’ve spent many years … Continue reading
Print 1. Project 12: The printed collagraph
Theme 1: Warm colour scheme Using my previous colour trials as a start point I chose scarlet red, sepia and chrome yellow, along with neutral grey, as my colour palette. The yellow is an oil paint rather than an ink … Continue reading
Print 1. Project 12: Representational collatype plate
Making the print plate I’ve spent the last week creating my retro 1950s living room collagraph plate and it’s been great fun. Coming from a model-making background means that I enjoy messing around with small components and putting them together … Continue reading
Print 1. Project 12: Representational collatype collage prints
Creating a design The aim is to produce a coherent representational collagraphic image using some of the techniques learned in project 11. I’ve spent the last 2 weeks considering my subject matter and design. My start point came from the … Continue reading
Posted in Printmaking 1
Tagged Collagraphs, Grace Bentley-Scheck, Print1-P12, Print1-Sketchbook
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Print 1. Project 11: Multicoloured collage block
This part of the project asks us to produce collagraphs in more than one colour. The manual outlines rolling over selected areas of your print plate with different colours. I also had a go at printing on different coloured papers … Continue reading
Print 1. Project 11: Research. Grace Bentley-Scheck
I came across Grace Bentley-Scheck whilst looking at another artist and was staggered by her collagraph images. Everything in collagraphs seems to shout ‘simplification’ and ‘stylization’ to me, and even the course manual talks about simplifying imagery to produce it … Continue reading
Print 1. Project 11: Printing the collatype collage block
Single colour prints. Plate 1: The first plate I used was the embossed PVC plastic. This has been made using the reverse of the method asked for by the course manual and is a personal experiment. Instead of adhering items … Continue reading
Tactual Textiles by Claire 