What is a Collagraph?

Collagraphy is a printing process where different textures are inked up to produce tones and pattern. Anything with a low relief texture can be used including wallpaper and fabrics. There are two different types of collagraph, relief and intaglio, determined by the way the ink is applied. Ink applied to the upper surface of a textured plate using a roller creates a relief collagraph. Ink applied to the whole surface of the plate using a brush or card spreader then wiped away leaving ink on the lower surfaces (similar to applying ink to an etching plate) creates an intaglio collagraph. I use both techniques in my work but favour relief.

In my reduction lino cut and collagraph print White Cyclamen, I used the relief technique for the blue shadows on the flowers, the green background to the leaves and the plant pot.

Below are two pages from my sketchbook showing the development of the print.

Several wallpaper textures and colourways were explored for the plant pot. For each I cut out a plant pot shape and placed it on a trial print to see how it looked. The numbered colours top right indicate the order in which they were printed for the lino print. The collagraphed components were printed after the lino print was completed.