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Jeff Gardner employs a range of materials including copper, zinc, aluminium and plastic plates to create his dry point prints. The print is in part a mono-print making each one unique with its own characteristic use of plate tone. Once the lines have been engraved or etched into the plate, ink is applied and the plate is wiped back until the desired effect is achieved. Meanwhile the acid free printmaking paper is soaked in water. The plate and the paper are then rolled through the printing press producing an image. A second colour can be introduced to the image with another plate. The background colour is printed first. While the ink is still wet the second plate image is printed over the top, wet into wet. This method creates secondary tones as the colours blend. METHODS USED BY JEFF GARDNER Dry point is a method of engraving lines into the surface of the plate without the use of acid. A dry point needle is drawn over the surface in a vertical manner. The action creates a bur which when printed creates a soft line. Plate tone is ink left on the plate that when printed creates a mid tone.
Engraving is what engravers do with a tool known as a burin. The burin leaves a clear cut line in the surface of the metal and when printed produces a sharp line. Chine collé is a method where tissue paper is laid over the inked plate. When the plate is printed the tissue adheres to the surface of the paper to create a background. Lithography is a method of drawing onto a flat stone surface with a soft crayon. The stone is then treated with gum arabic and acid. The stone is rolled up with ink and then printed. Screen printing employs the use of mesh screens and stop-out or stencil. The ink is then forced through the silkscreen mesh with a squeegee. Special mention and thanks go to the following people for their support on Cascade Print Workshop printmaking and publishing projects: Georgia Vlassopoulos & Jane Rusden - Workshop Assistants |
ABOUT THE PROCESS OF PRINTMAKING
Mono-print is a print that is printed once and has characteristics that are not repeatable.