Practical Resources for Fine Art: Printmaking

The first comprehensive how-to book on the topic! Contemporary ceramists have adapted traditional printmaking procedures to transfer images onto clay surfaces. And, with this thorough resource, anyone can take advantage of these techniques in their own home studio—even those with no printmaking background. The simple processes don’t require fancy equipment. Use silk-screen decals with light-sensitive emulsions to create a master image: then cover with glazes, and voilá! Use colored slips for unique monoprints. Work with stencils, relief blocks, or stamps, trying a variety of materials to mark the clay surface. Each method is carefully laid out in numerous photos, and shown on a finished piece. More than 100 images by leading contemporary artists showcase the techniques and provide a wealth of inspiration.

The book details the methods, materials and principles involved in the twin arts of engraving and etching. The illustrations show the tools and techniques used by the etcher and engraver.

In Digital Alchemy, acclaimed printmaker Bonny Pierce Lhotka shows how to turn your standard inkjet printer into a seemingly magical instrument capable of transforming your printed images into true works of art. Using plenty of visuals and straightforward terms, Lhotka walks you step-by-step through over a dozen projects. Forget printing on boring old paper, in Digital Alchemy, you’ll learn how to transfer and print images to a variety of surfaces including metal, wood, fabric, stone, and plastic using the techniques Lhotka’s spent years developing.

Recognized as a spontaneous and exciting process, monoprinting is also effective, convenient, and does not necessarily require a press.