How is a lithograph made at The Artists Press?
Artists are invited to work with a highly skilled printer who has been trained in the technical and collaborative aspects of printing for artists. Although some artists do print their own lithographs, many have neither the time nor inclination to learn about the complex chemistry of the medium. Artists who work at The Artists’ Press are free to concentrate on creating their images while the collaborating printer attends to the technical requirements. Often, artists rely on the printers’ expertise to achieve their aesthetic goals. First an artist draws an image, in reverse, on a fine-grained stone or aluminium plate. For a one-colour lithograph, this will be the only drawing. Each additional colour will generally require a separate stone or plate. Artists use the same kinds of tools they would for images on paper or canvas. However, since the basic principle of lithographic printing is the natural repulsion of grease and water, the crayons, pencils, and washes used in lithography have a
