FEATURE

Lithography

An image is painted, drawn or stencilled onto a slab of limestone or a metal plate (often aluminium) with oily materials, including greasy crayons and pencils, special ink called tusche, and photochemical transfers.

TECHNIQUE

Lithography

An image is painted, drawn or stencilled onto a slab of limestone or a metal plate (often aluminium) with oily materials, including greasy crayons and pencils, special ink called tusche, and photochemical transfers.

The image is treated with gum arabic and nitric acid to fix the image areas from the non-printing areas.

When inking up the stone or metal with a roller, the surface is kept wet, so that the oil-based ink only sticks to the image area. Paper is then placed down and the stone or plate is run through a press.

More printmaking techniques

Linocut

In this relief printing process, an image is carved or etched into a sheet of linoleum. Ink is applied to the lino using a roller; the cut-away areas do not pick up ink. Paper is placed down onto the image and either printed on a press or printed by hand.

See more

Drypoint

Using a sharp pointed tool like an etching needle, an image is scratched into a flat polished sheet of metal such as copper or aluminium. Plastic or card can also be used.

See more

Monotype

Monotype is a way of making a unique print that cannot be repeated. Using methods from painting and drawing, ink is applied to a surface, and marks can be added or taken away from the surface.

See more

More Features

All features

Hard ground

A traditional technique in etching. After degreasing the surface of the plate, hard ground is rolled over the surface.

See more

On Siss / Phuss: Ziqi Xu in conversation with Livia Wang

“It’s all because I want to see myself, I want to see those unnoticed moments, how they pass by, what is really happening. So that makes the work very personal.”

Artist:
Ziqi Xu

See more

Artist talk: Eleanor Watson

Eleanor grapples with her attraction to decorative interiors, finding beauty in pattern, object and light, in this video presentation.

Video

See more

Newsletter

If you would like to hear more from us, email the studio to receive our monthly newsletter.