
Let’s Make a Collagraph, Shall We?
Here is one collagraph in an edition of seven, made from a mat board substrate, printed by hand with ink, and then treated with color using a variety of media; one with watercolor, another with charcoal, a bright and impressionistic version with oil pastel and the print above with colored pencil. One of the many things I love about printmaking is the endless variety of options to play with the art *after* the print is pulled. The art supply cupboard is your oyster! Fiddling with art supplies is on the same plane as eating a good meal, swimming, sitting by the sea or laying in a hammock with a good book. Everything feels better afterwards.
How many times have you reached into your trove of art supplies to play for an hour this month?
I’ve just posted a printmaking tutorial video to encourage mixed media art making fun with mat board collagraphs. Check it out below….





Collagraph Video Tutorial
I’ve posted a video (below) showing the process of hand printing and then hand coloring these collagraph prints with watercolor, colored pencil, charcoal and oil pastel on my youtube channel. If you receive these blog posts via email or rss, and you don’t see the video window below, you can watch it directly on youtube here.
Collagraph Supply List
I post materials used in each video in the ‘show more’ section under the video window on my channel, but many folks have trouble finding that link because they’re either on a mobile device, or they’re unfamiliar with the layout in youtube. From now on, I’ll post the same materials list with links associated with each new video here on my blog too. I hope it helps you find the supplies you need to make some great art. 🙂
Materials:
Your own reference photo, and the tutorial video on my youtube channel demonstrating how to make a collagraph plate: http://bit.ly/1JaJN48
For a subject, select something with simple lines and curves. Example: a plain coffee cup with a few tulips in it would work well… but a cut-crystal vase of daisies might be a bit too much to carve, at first. 🙂
Mat board
http://amzn.to/WGhqoi
Rubber Gloves
http://amzn.to/1bNmWvu
Akua Intaglio Ink
http://amzn.to/1fVpCD6
Akua Lamp Black intaglio ink
http://amzn.to/1zYxuiW
Akua Mag Mix (ink thickener)
http://amzn.to/13jfOn7
Small containers for leftover ink
http://amzn.to/1E9dDQ3
BFK Rives paper Heavier Weight (for use with a press)
http://amzn.to/1lmHu0X
BFK Rives paper (lightweight) for use with hand rub/transfer
(recommended if you plan to add other media)
http://amzn.to/1zeJ2S6
Kozo Mulberry paper (for hand rub/transfer, not recommended for adding water-media)
http://amzn.to/1C97v9I
Tarlatan cloth
http://amzn.to/1GxgK6b
Pointed Q-tips (for spot-clearing ink)
http://amzn.to/1caphku
Oil Pastels
http://amzn.to/1A5jchs
Colored Pencil
http://amzn.to/1eyaZod
Charcoal drawing set
http://amzn.to/1F7FFPj
Watercolors
http://amzn.to/1vJkwrQ
Watercolor Brushes
http://amzn.to/1xw9yDn
apron
http://amzn.to/1fWXkIh
Non-skid liner to secure your plate while inking & wiping
http://amzn.to/1ggYcsv
metal ruler with cork back for paper tearing
http://amzn.to/1ATQx1f
spatula for mixing/laying out ink
http://amzn.to/1sevJsW
Mylar sheets (tape one down to mix ink on – if you don’t have a piece of glass)
http://amzn.to/13iA73Z
If you have any questions about the process, please leave them in the comment section, and I’ll do my best to answer them quickly! Happy printing!
Belinda
Art Quote
An art which isn’t based on feeling isn’t an art at all… feeling is the principle, the beginning and the end; craft, objective, technique – all these are in the middle.
Wow Belinda, your new site is fantastic! Chock full of your artwork, process and even lets folks get a little glimpse of you. Thank you for your postings and making life more beautiful.
Thanks very much, my friend! A new site has been on the list of To-Do’s for a long time, and I’m so glad to check it off and get back to the brushes! 🙂 xoxo