What is a print?

A print is a work of art consisting of ink and paper, created by indirectly transferring ink from a
carved surface to the paper.
What are the 4 types of printmaking?
Woodcut, lithography, etching, and screenprint.

Briefly describe the history of...

Woodcut: This is the earliest form of printmaking and it began in China. When it spread to Europe, it was
originally used for stamping designs onto fabric, textile, and playing cards. It had achieved the status of an
important art form by the sixteenth century.
Lithography: It was invented in 1798 by a german actor. It reached its full artistic fruition in the 1890s.
Lithography can be one of the most direct printmaking mediums because the images are executed on a flat
surface.
Etching: It was first developed in the sixteenth century after it was discovered that acid could be used to
etch images onto a metal plate. Etching is a medium in which the piece is composed of lines.
Screenprint: This is a form of stencilling. It was very popular in the 1930s. During the 1960s it became even
more popular, much due to pop artists.

Click thru the steps and Explain the steps to...

Woodcut:
1) Cut images into the wood using certain tools. The places that are cut away will not receive ink
2) Ink the non-cut (raised) portions of wood using a roller
3) A piece of paper is placed on top of the block and pressed with the back of a spoon
4) The paper is lifted from the wood to reveal the carved image inked onto the paper in reverse
5) If more colors are needed, separate blocks are used
Lithography:
1) Draw a refined image on the limestone with either oil-based lithographic crayons or tusche
2) The stone is wiped with chemical solution
3) The stone is wiped with a solvent to dissolve most of the original drawing. There will be a slight
ghostly remain, and the drawing has now been fixed to the stone
4) The stone surface is wiped with water
5) Oil-based printing ink is applied to the stone using a roller. Because of all of the previous steps, the
ink only sticks to the drawn image
6) The inked stone is placed on the bed of a lithographic press. A sheet of damp paper is laid on top,
padded with a board, and placed under the pressure bar, which exerts even pressure as it goes
through the press
7) The paper is lifted away from the stone and the image has been printed in reverse. If more colors
are needed, more stones are used

Etching:
1) A waxy, acid resistant ground is applied to a metal plate
2) After the ground has dried, an etching needle is used to draw through the ground. The needle
scratches through and exposes the metal
3) The plate is submerged into a pan of acid, where the etchings are exposed, causing incision, or
bite
4) The plate is removed from the acid, and the ground is removed with a solvent. The artist image is on
the plate
5) The entire plate is inked, often using a dabber to get the ink into the lines
6) The surface of the plate is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines
7) The plate is placed face up on the bed of an etching press. A sheet of dampened paper is laid on
top, padded with a blanket, and run through the press. Pressure forces the paper into the etched
lines to receive the ink
8) The paper is lifted away from the plate to reveal the image printed in reverse. The paper is bigger
than the plate, so the edges of the plate are imprinted on the paper
Screenprint:
1) Cut image onto sheet of plastic film or paper. The cut away areas are then removed, creating a
stencil
2) The stencil is attached to a screen of fine mesh stretched across a wooden frame. The paper is
placed inside the frame, above the mesh, and ink is placed across the top of the screen
3) A rubber blade is used to spread ink across the stencil and through the open portion left by the cut
way areas
4) The screen is lifted to reveal think ink in the form of the cut away areas on the paper, not in reverse.
If more colors are needed, more screens are used

Pick your favorite example of each (include artist and title) and explain why you picked it. Examples are
given at the bottom of the screen when you go to each type of printmaking

Woodcut: My favorite piece in the woodcut gallery is Savage Breeze, because I really like the colors used and
how you cant quite determine what it is for certain.
Lithography: My favorite piece is the untitled print of the ocean, done by Vija Celmins. I like this print
because it is the most detailed, realistic, and exact out of all the lithographic pieces.

Etching: My favorite etching piece is American Landscape, because it shows a beautiful scene with very nice
detail and value.
Screenprint: My favorite piece in the screenprint gallery is Brushstroke, because I really like the flow of the
lines in the piece, and the contrast provided by the colors.

What technique do you find most interesting and why?

I like the woodcut technique the best because it is simple and seemingly easy, but still gives a
finished looking product. It is an interesting way to imprint the design and Id like to try it sometime.