learn: Creating Collagraphs with Anita Howard

Collagraph is printing of a created low-relief surface.

1. You need a surface that is strong enough that it will not warp when items are glued to it; materials such as plank of wood or thick cardboard. This will create your base plate.

2. You need materials that can be glued onto your base, materials like textured paper, other pieces of cardboard, string, leaves or fabric. My example is some cardboard horses.

3. Now create your printing surface by gluing the images and/or textures onto the base.

4. Coat the entire created surface with varnish or acrylic medium to protect the materials from the printing ink.

5. Roll on the ink (I use a sponge roller), completely covering the area you wish to print.

6. Place a sheet of paper over the inked surface and, using a hard roller, back of a spoon or base of your hand, rub the back of the paper, making sure you have forced the paper onto all surfaces of the print surface. Depending on the type of ink (its drying time), this process can be done slowly or must be done quickly.

7. Peel off the paper from the print surface and you should have your print (colour of example below differs from tutorial photos).



8. Have fun!