A Quick Guide to Printmaking Terminology

I thought a brief glossary of printmaking terms might be helpful to our website users who, like me, like art but may not be printmaking experts!

Artists's Proof/AP

You maya see the letters AP on the bottom left of a print where you would normally expect the edition number to be. It means that the piece has been printed especially for the artist and excluded from the numbering of an edition, but is exactly like the ditioned prints in every other way.

Blindstamp/Chop

The embossed, inked or stamped symbol used by printers, publishers and print studios, usually in the margin of the paper as a mark of identification.

Catalogue Raisonné

A scholoarly catalogue which should include all the known works by an artist at the time of publication. Essential information by which works are identified is included.

Colophon/Justification

A note, usually at the end of a book or portfolio of prints, giving all or some of the following information: name of work, author, printer, place of printing, date, size of edition.

Edition

The total number of impressions pulled of a single image or set of images from the same matrix. To this number the artist usually authorises the addition of a small number of artists's, studio's,  publisher's and other proofs.

Embossing

A process used to create a raised surface or raised element, but printed withput ink.

Engraving

An intaglio process in which a plate is marked or incised directly with a burin or other metal-marking tool. No acid is used in this process since the design is dog out by hand. An engraved line can range from very deep and wide, to lighter and thinner and is often characterised by a pointed end signaling the exit of the 'v' shaped burion from the metal.

Etching

An intaglio process in which a plate is treated with an acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through the ground with various tools to expose the metal. The plate is then immersed in an acid bath where the acid chemically dissolves the exposed lines. The metal plate is therefore etched by the acid rather than by a tool directly in the metal.

Hors- Commerce/HC

You may see the letters HC in the bottom left of a print where you would normally expect to see the edition number. Hors-commerce means 'outside of the commercial edition', these proofs, not originally intended for sale, are excluded from the numbering of an edition, but are otherwise exactly like the editioned prints in every other respect.

Intaglio

All matrices which have either been cut into or etched into. The resulting dug out lines are printed. Intaglio processes include etching, aquatint, engraving and mezzotint.

Lithography

A planographic (printing from a flat surface) form of printing where a drawing is made directly on a stone or other smooth matrix with greasy materials such as lithographic crayon. The surface is then dampened with water, which is repelled by the greasy areas. The surface is then rolled with greasy printing ink which adheres only to the greasy areas and is itself repelled by the areas which have water. The drawn image is then printed.

Master Printmaker

A highly skilled priner who works very closely with the artist to produce the edition. In our case Brad Faine at Coriander Studio.

Matrix

The base from which a print is made.

Monotype

A unique image printed from an unworked, smooth metal or glass surface painted in ink by the artist.

Monoprint

A print which is uniquely altered by monotype colouring, unique inking, hand painting or choices in paper colour.

Publisher

The person or company who subsidises and often initiates the making of a print edition or portfolio and who also distributes the prints.

Silkscreen/Screenprint

A printing process using stencils to block out areas which rae then printed through silk, other fabric or metal mesh. CCA Galleries' and Coriander Studio's specialist area.

Studio Proof/Printer's Proofs/SP

You may see the letters SP or PP in the botton left of a print where you woulf normally expect to see the edition number. SP stands for Studio Proof: an impression printed especially for the printer/print studio and excluded from the numbering of an edition, but exactly like the editioned prints in every way.

Let me know if there are any other terms you would like clarification on!

BHF and CCA Galleries collaborating at Art London

With the recent news that the British Heart Foundation will be taking a stand alongside CCA at Art London in October this year. I thought it would be pertinent to write some pieces about the stories behind the beautiful images in the Breath of Life portfolio that they will be displaying.

Just to inform any new visitors, CCA are helping the BHF to raise funds for their Mending Broken Hearts Apeal through an ongoing art project. In April we unveiled the Breath of Life portfolio of 15 original limited edition silkscreen prints by a unqiue group of leading British artists based on the theme of mending broken hearts. All profits from the sale of these pieces will go to the BHF. Each artwork in the portfolio (the artworks can be purchased individually or as a set) has a special story behind it.

I thought I would start with Duggie Fields' Madonna and Heart, one of the boldest and most daring images in the portfolio. I have to say that Duggie has been the most wonderful artist to work with; he agreed to be involved with the project with alacrity and has always gone out of his way to be supportive of the BHF's brilliant work, as well as being constantly charming and fun. I did not realise until well into the project that Duggie had very personal reasons for wanting to help, reasons which he is happy to share in order to raise awareness,

' I was very happy to be given the opportunity to contribute to the Mending Broken Hearts Art Appeal. My Father died of heart disease in the late 1960s so I am very aware of the devastating effect of it on peoples' lives. To make a contribution towards lessening it's impact on others was irrestistable, and it was also a great group of artists to be included with.'

It is always nerve-wracking going to meet an artist for the first time, especially when they are as cool as Duggie and double-especially when you are going to ask them to do a project for charity (most major artists receive dozens of these sorts of requests every week!). I manages to find Duggie's flat in a llovely red brick mansion block in Earl's Square. He has lived here since the mid 1960s when he was flatmates with Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd (did I mention he is pretty cool?). Stepping into the flat is like stepping into another world: Duggie World, and it is infintely more colourful, eccentric and surprising than the grey London streets outside. The flat is Duggie's studio as well as his home, and every room has been lovingly transfomed over the years to reflect his artistic vision; walls are painted and hung with his pieces, bright and beautiful mannequins are dotted about the place,  even some of the furniture has been created by Duggie. As we sit and have a cup of tea he tells me how even now- 40 years on- Pink Floyd fans still randomly turn up at his door hoping to see the place where Syd lived and strummed. What was Syd's room is now Duggie's main studio space. Although he does a lot of digital artwork on his computer in the sitting room, he still retains a large place in his heart- and a large amount of time- for his works on canvas. Duggie likes to work on a large scale and his paintings can take up to 6 months to complete.

Madonna and Heart is in Duggie's flamboyant signature hard-edged post-pop art style, which he describes as 'MAXIMAList'. I think the piece is particularly powerful because of the contrast between the contemporary and severe linear style with the traditional and sentimental subject matter. As is often the case with Duggie's work the choice of imagery could be considered controversial (his images of both Princess Diana and Michael Jackson have caused a stir in the past); removing the infant Jesus from this Catholic iconography and replacing him with an anatomical heart (perhaps suggesting that the body should be treated as a temple, or that health has replaced god in popular culture?). The bright palatte and dramatic lines of the piece give it a lot of impact on the wall, and it's certainly one of my top picks from the portfolio. Duggie also created a one-off digital print on canvas of Madonna and Heart which stands nearly 2 meters tall, and will be on display at a central London location in 2011- watch this space for more news.

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