bridget stewart - hand print press

EXPLORE  -  CREATE:  CELEBRATE 

UMKC Hand Print Press

When we get together we ask: what ink did you use? We sit around and endlessly talk about the ink and paper, and what kind of brayers are being used. We think about different color combinations. Always keeping our eyes open for textures. Textures we might want to use. It is experiments, trying it out, seeing what happens, this is what draws us into the process. As print makers we are a curious and an excited bunch. We all do love the process.  Bridget Stewart

Twelve members from The Print Society of Greater Kansas City visited the Hand Print Press facilities Sunday afternoon.

Ink and texture, like this.  I like the collagraph because it gives me room to experiment. The ones you see on the table have all been done by building up a surface -- and then inking and printing the surface. The reason I chose this one is it really is a process you can do at home.  Bridget Stewart

Everyone who explores this kind of creativity comes to appreciate the process and the quirks of that process.   Things don't always dry as fast as you think it might.    You think that trimming off the materials that stick out is well, but in doing so, other portions you don't want to disturb get bumped or worse, fall off. It is better to let the whole thing dry first.  You can always go back and trim it later.

It's all a part of the magic of it. I always think it's a bit like alchemy. You have a piece of metal. You put some ink on it. Some paper on it. You put some felts on it. You run it through the press and when you lift up the felts and the paper. you either had gold or you have lead. You lift it up ----- "Oh, gold today. I have gold today."    Bridget Stewart

 Eleven minute video.  Stewart shows how to create with simple materials to make homemade collagraphs. =*/=  The Heavy Golden Gel Medium can be built up and help make the textures one wants. When the plate is complete -- it must cure up for at least 24 hours. =*/= 

 Stewart says that anytime she has tried to cut corners, the end result does not work. Even if she wants to do it a fast way, doing it the right way has best outcome. All who come to love this medium respect the step-by-step procedure. =*/= 

Visitors with The Print Society of Greater Kansas City were invited to PLAY with their materials and CREATE their own collagraph at home.

A celebration of sharing is asking working professionals, amateurs, students, and everyone else to submit a 4 by 6 inch print for the upcoming Print Exchange.

^^^ Call For Entries ^^^

25th Anniversary

Print Exchange 

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CLICK HERE

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Working professionals Laura Kuchynka  and  Katherine Torbett shared their excitement. Both use the facilities at the UMKC Hand Print Press.

EXPLORE


 

I was using regular intaglio ink but I couldn't get it to work. Bridget taught me that litho ink actually worked better. I had to print everything all over again. But with it I was able to get much finer detail.      Laura Kuchynka

Two minute video. You can see what her exploration produced. Click on this link and scroll down on that page to see her work called Agaricus. ++++++  Agaricus by Laura Kuchynka

CREATE

Four minute video. Katherine Torbett passes the clear poly vinyl plate around the table along with her selected linoleum cut print. Click the following link and scroll down on the page to see Torbett's linocut.  Elegant Terms by Katherine Torbett. The bird beaks were hand painted.

We'll see what happens.

UMKC HAND PRINT PRESS
https://www.handprintpress.org/home