Thursday, June 2, 2011

Carborundum Collagraph

I've never done this, but am totally fascinated. Just look at Jill Alo's print that can been seen right now at Hooks-Esptein Gallery in Houston.


Jill Alo
Wayward
carborundum print on celtec plate
 
What is Carborundum you ask? It's grit, kind of like really fine sand. Better and more lengthy description here. I used it in college to grind litho plates, but haven't used it yet in a collagraph.

Here's Jill's brief how-to:

Carborundum, yes: you sort of paint the grit onto your plate, after mixing with a medium. Looks like gray mud! It's a good medium for printmakers who start out as painters. After the first run you can sand your image, carve into it a bit, etc. Leaves just enough accidental marks to be interesting and print-like.
 
If you'd like to read more, check out this Wiki page on Carborundum Printmaking (I can't imagine life before Wiki! Oh how I love it!).

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