Hey all!
Today we are using the scientific method to determine which style of collagraph works best for printing.
A collagraph (sometimes spelled collograph) is a method of printmaking that involves adhering materials to a board or sturdy surface to build up a printing surface.
I decided to use the scientific method to explore different materials and printing pigments.
- Observation – I have observed, by doing, that you can make prints (copies) of designs by using many different materials.
- Questions – Can I make prints from cardboard, hot glue and foam sheets? Which pigment will make the best print; an ink pad, acrylic paint or lipstick?
- Hypothesis – which combination of these materials will give me the most successful print?
- Prediction – I think the hot glue will give me the cleanest print while the foam sheet will give me the best print all around. I think the cardboard will not give me a clear print. I also think the lipstick will give me the best color of all.
- Test the prediction – I chose collagraphy as the printing technique to test my predication because I can use materials I have on hand.
TEST – you can watch the entire video of the process at https://www.facebook.com/artoutofanything/
Here’s a sneak peek of the process –
I used hot glue to create designs on a piece of cardboard. This does take a little practice as you have to make sure your design is raised and not flat. I also cut up a piece of adhesive backed foam sheet into an abstract design and adhered it to another piece of cardboard and then used cut up cardboard as another design. These will be my 3 printing plates.
Next, I experimented with 3 different pigments in the form of paint, lipstick and an ink pad. The amount of pigment placed on the printing plates is very important; too much and you get a gloppy, messy print, too little and you don’t get a clear print.
Here are the results. Which one do you think made the best print? Which print is clear, complete and clean? Was my hypothesis correct?
In my video, you can see some other techniques I tried while testing out my hypothesis!
You can also find some easy printmaking techniques in keeping with our motto “work with what you have”, at Tinkerlab.
Be sure to visit and follow me @artoutofanything on Instagram and FB.
Here’s the link again for the full length video – Collagraphs and The Scientific Method
Let’s see what other collagraphs you can come up with!
See you on Thursday and keep creating!
Thanks for visiting,
Patty
artoutofanything.com 