Calgary Artist Nancy Osadchuk - Print Making Techniques

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Nancy Osadchuk

Woodcut:
These are relief prints, meaning anything on the surface that is inked, will print. Western style is usually done using oil based pigments. Traditional Japanese woodcuts use watercolour or water based ink. They may be a simple black and white or have many colours. A matrix is used, in this case a plank of wood. A design is transferred or dawn directly onto the very smoothly sanded block, and then any parts that are not to print will be carved away. Cherry is a popular wood but nearly any can be used. The design is carved using a variety of very sharp knives and gouges. When carving is finished, the block is dampened, pigment and rice paste applied with a brush, and printing is done by hand using moistened paper. A baren (a disc shaped tool used to apply pressure to the paper) is rubbed over the back of the paper to print. The back of a wooden spoon can also be used to pull the print. Woodcut is convenient because you do not need a lot of equipment such as a press, and materials are not toxic.

- By Canadian Artist Nancy Osadchuk

Etching:
Etchings are known as intaglio prints, where only the inked, etched lines will print. A plate, usually zinc or copper, has an acid resistant coating on the back and an acid resistant ground is applied to the front. A design is transferred or dawn on the ground, then the design is cut into the ground with a sharp instrument. The plate is immersed in an acid bath and the acid bites into any marks cut through the ground. After rinsing the plate the ground is cleaned off and ink applied. It is then wiped thoroughly so that only the etched lines hold ink. Moistened paper is laid over the plate and it is printed with a press. A studio must have a properly equipped space for the acid bath with venting to the outside. As with woodcut and other original prints, the plate has to be re-inked each time a print is pulled.

Nancy Osadchuk Art Studio
Calgary, Alberta
Phone: (403) 278-6152
E-mail: nosadchuk@shaw.ca

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