Printing Process
Relief printing, in art printmaking, is a process consisting of cutting or etching a printing surface in such a way that all that remains of the original surface is the design to be printed.
Drawing
I start out by drawing my imagery directly onto the board. This typically consists of outlines, and some directional makings. Drawing and carving go hand in hand throughout this process. After the outlines are drawn and I start carving details out, I will typically black out sections with a marker and freehand the details within that section of the carving, making my way through the entire image.
Carving
The next step is to start carving. I use a variety of printmaking specific tools to carve out my image. I freehand carve the details within my prints- which leaves much more space for creativity and constant change of what I think the final print will look like.
Inking
The next phase in the printmaking process is inking. After testing different colors of ink against the color of paper I have chosen for the print, a thin layer is rolled evenly over the surface of the carving.
Printing
After the carving has been rolled ink, a piece of paper is placed on top. Pressure is then applied to the back of the paper. This transfers the inked image from the plate onto the paper. The paper is then pulled from the carving, producing an original print.
I have created a slightly different process than a typical printmaker, and use a yard roller for this process rather than a printing press.
