Definition: “Collagraphy (sometimes spelled collography) is a printmaking process introduced in 1955 by Glen Alps in which materials are applied to a rigid substrate (such as paperboard or wood). The word is derived from the Greek word koll or kolla, meaning glue, and graph, meaning the activity of drawing.”

Usually, a sheet of matt board (rigid cardboard) is used as the base and a variety of textured materials are applied with glue. When the plate is completely dry, it is coated with two coats (minimum) of shellac, to seal the plate and make it waterproof. Then ink is applied in the same way as an etching plate – ink is applied with a spatula or piece of card, spread and pushed into the grooves and recesses with a tarlatan cloth and then polished with fine paper (a page of telephone book is great).

Damp paper is placed over the inked plate and then rolled through a printing press to transfer the image to the paper. The key concept is that rough materials (carborundum, scrunched tissue paper, sandpaper) collect the ink and create a dark tone, while smooth and shiny materials (PVA, foil) allow the ink to be polished off easily and therefor create lighter tones.

Over four consecutive weeks, I will be running Beginner’s Collagraph workshops at Port Fairy Community House on Saturday mornings between 10am and 12noon. Contact PFCH for bookings.

I am also offering Gelatin Plate Monoprinting and Linocut Workshops at “Off the Rails” in Dunkeld. Gelli-printing will be from 1.00 to 3.00pm on Saturday 26th August ($50) and Lino-printing will be from 10.00am to 3.00pm on Saturday 2nd September ($80 – bring your own lunch or purchase in Dunkeld). Bring your own aprons and ideas! Contact me at brittgow(at)gmail.com for bookings.