Printmaking Information
Printmaking involves a variety of techniques and styles and range of terms that may need further explanation. Here we will further discuss the fine art printmaking industry, different mediums and techniques.
What is a fine art print?
A fine art print is not merely a copy of an existing painting or artwork. Whilst the print may use similar imagery, it is an independent artwork created by the artist, often in collaboration with a professional printmaker. Fine art prints can be etchings, lithographs, wood or lino prints, serigraphs or screen prints, monoprints, mezzotints and collographs. Fine art prints arehand printed using high quality inks on acid free paper, and are numbered and signed by the artist.
What is an edition?
Once the printing matrix (or plate/block/screen) has been made, the printer will discuss the options and present the artist with different colour versions of the print. Once a colour trail proof is approved by the artist, the printer will create the agreed number of prints which make up the edition. An edition is numbered, usually at the bottom left hand corner of the image, with the number of the print over the total number of the edition e.g. 10/30. This represents the tenth print of an edition of thirty. Editions also include AP's or Artists Proofs which are the prints for the artists collection, WP's or Workshop Proofs which are the prints for the print workshop's collection and PP's or Printer's Proofs which are the prints for the printmakers collection.
As opposed to digital prints, such as giclee or iris prints (which are usually exact copies of paintings) fine art prints may differ slightly within an edition. This is due to the fact that the prints are made by hand by an artisan, rather than by a machine. This being said, any variations within an edition should be minimal.
What happens at a printmaking workshop?
During a printmaking workshop, the printer works as a facilitator to provide the artist with the printmaking skills, knowledge and techniques to help them to translate their art practice into the chosen print medium. The printer works with the artist to ascertain what the artist wishes to achieve with the artwork, and then explains the medium to the artist and helps them to experiment and explore it's possibilities to create a new and innovative artwork.
Ideally the printer will produce colour trail proofs for the artist during the workshop, so the artist can see how the work is progressing. If time and/or equipment constraints do not allow for this to happen, or be completed, the colour trail proofs will be completed in our studio and sent to the artist for approval at no extra cost.
Who produces fine art prints?
Many professional artists produce fine art prints as part of their regular art practice. Some artists possess printmaking skills and have access to a printmaking studio, and can therefore produce their own prints. Others utilise the assistance of a fine art printmaking studio to help them create prints. Different print mediums utilise different skills that the artists already possess.
Etching uses painting and drawing skills, as does screen printing, and both lino and wood block printing use carving skills. A discussion with our printer can help you to work out the best print medium for you.
Who buys fine art prints?
Fine art prints offer a high quality, but affordable option for collectors and art lovers. Prints, being multiples, are usually less expensive than an equivalent sized painting by the same artist.
All large public art galleries and most regional art galleries as well as many important private art collections contain prints.
A fine art print is not merely a copy of an existing painting or artwork. Whilst the print may use similar imagery, it is an independent artwork created by the artist, often in collaboration with a professional printmaker. Fine art prints can be etchings, lithographs, wood or lino prints, serigraphs or screen prints, monoprints, mezzotints and collographs. Fine art prints arehand printed using high quality inks on acid free paper, and are numbered and signed by the artist.
What is an edition?
Once the printing matrix (or plate/block/screen) has been made, the printer will discuss the options and present the artist with different colour versions of the print. Once a colour trail proof is approved by the artist, the printer will create the agreed number of prints which make up the edition. An edition is numbered, usually at the bottom left hand corner of the image, with the number of the print over the total number of the edition e.g. 10/30. This represents the tenth print of an edition of thirty. Editions also include AP's or Artists Proofs which are the prints for the artists collection, WP's or Workshop Proofs which are the prints for the print workshop's collection and PP's or Printer's Proofs which are the prints for the printmakers collection.
As opposed to digital prints, such as giclee or iris prints (which are usually exact copies of paintings) fine art prints may differ slightly within an edition. This is due to the fact that the prints are made by hand by an artisan, rather than by a machine. This being said, any variations within an edition should be minimal.
What happens at a printmaking workshop?
During a printmaking workshop, the printer works as a facilitator to provide the artist with the printmaking skills, knowledge and techniques to help them to translate their art practice into the chosen print medium. The printer works with the artist to ascertain what the artist wishes to achieve with the artwork, and then explains the medium to the artist and helps them to experiment and explore it's possibilities to create a new and innovative artwork.
Ideally the printer will produce colour trail proofs for the artist during the workshop, so the artist can see how the work is progressing. If time and/or equipment constraints do not allow for this to happen, or be completed, the colour trail proofs will be completed in our studio and sent to the artist for approval at no extra cost.
Who produces fine art prints?
Many professional artists produce fine art prints as part of their regular art practice. Some artists possess printmaking skills and have access to a printmaking studio, and can therefore produce their own prints. Others utilise the assistance of a fine art printmaking studio to help them create prints. Different print mediums utilise different skills that the artists already possess.
Etching uses painting and drawing skills, as does screen printing, and both lino and wood block printing use carving skills. A discussion with our printer can help you to work out the best print medium for you.
Who buys fine art prints?
Fine art prints offer a high quality, but affordable option for collectors and art lovers. Prints, being multiples, are usually less expensive than an equivalent sized painting by the same artist.
All large public art galleries and most regional art galleries as well as many important private art collections contain prints.
