Review of Ecological Printmaking by Mary Dalton
This April, I spent time using a brilliant recently published printmaking book, Ecological Printmaking by Mary Dalton to trial new ways of printing at home.
In this practical and inspiring guide, Mary shows how printmakers can make their processes more environmentally friendly through a series of simple, achievable changes. The book is packed with techniques and instructions (like making your own inks from home-sourced pigments). I tried printing with oiled manilla stencil card - to create a reduction print.
Working at home with my small Rollaco etching press, it was a completely new way of printing. I found it much easier to register the card, and all 10 prints came out perfectly - which definitely isn’t the case when I make lino reductions! I also enjoyed the challenge of cutting a card matrix that remains in one piece.
I didn’t have any thin paper at home, so didn’t try hand burnishing. Instead, using my small press I printed onto Somerset 250gsm paper. I’d like to try similar card from Exeter Scrapstore, which I think would work well and might be easier to cut with a scalpel.
Crowood Press publishes a wide range of excellent printmaking guides, covering techniques such as gel printing, lino, screenprint, lithography, wood engraving and letterpress.
About Mary Dalton:
Mary Dalton is an internationally recognised artist and arts researcher. She trained at the Royal College of Art, graduating with an MFA in Printmaking. She has run the lithography studio at Curwen and now teaches at West Dean, alongside leading a range of online courses. Double Elephant also offers two affordable online courses by Mary Dalton (see our online courses), as well as her free tutorial on papermaking at home.
Crowood Press are offering 10% discount on any of their publications using the code TCP10