Overview
My process centers on collagraph and viscosity printmaking. Each print begins with the construction of a plate that is developed over multiple stages, allowing the surface to become increasingly complex before printing. The plate is then inked in layers using viscosity printing and run through the etching press, transferring the accumulated surface and ink relationships onto paper.
Forming the Matrix
Each plate develops through cutting, gluing, carving, and chemical alteration. The materials react in different ways, shaping how I work with them. Texture, layering, and material response guide the process.
Inking the Plate
The plate has multiple levels of texture. The deepest areas hold the intaglio ink, which fills the carved and recessed sections to create tone and depth. After wiping the surface clean, only the grooves retain this ink.
Next comes the viscosity inking. A thin, low-viscosity ink is rolled gently across the highest points of the plate, leaving the middle and lower levels untouched. Because of its low tack, this layer resists the thicker inks that follow. A denser, high-viscosity ink is then rolled with more pressure, catching the mid and low level textures while being repelled by the highest ones. Each layer interacts differently, creating subtle shifts in color and texture.
Transference
The plate, inks, and paper come together under the etching press. Pressure fuses them into a single image, capturing the moment when all elements align. Each print holds the trace of that transformation.