If you're interested in exploring the world of printmaking, or creating limited edition prints of your own artwork, we hope this article acts as a basic guide. This month we talk to artist Joanna Cohn who, following a career as a jazz singer, decided to commit exclusively to fine art and is currently studying for a Masters at Central Saint Martins. Jo finds herself absorbed by the etching process, recently producing a series of moonscapes in dramatic ultramarine and dark and moody graphite. Curious to understand what gets people so hooked on printmaking, she shares her obsession. ‘For me printmaking requires both extreme control and total lack of control. There is always an element of risk and of surprise that makes it really joyous when a piece is successful.’
Believed to have originated in the 1 st century AD in China's was the first book printed in Europe using movable metal type in 1455. There are various printmaking techniques that fall into relief, intaglio and planographic printmaking. Relief printmaking requires removal or carving away to make lines, intaglio is where the surface is incised to create grooves and planographic techniques involve making images from a flat surface. Read on for a brief overview of the printmaking techniques and new adventures.
