Ink & Texture: The Art of the Painterly Collagraph (Feb 21-22)

Traditional collagraph involves collaging textured materials—like cardboard, tape, dried leaves, or fabric—onto a firm plate. When inked and run through a press, these elements leave behind richly embossed and visually layered images that echo the textures used.

The painterly collagraph takes a different approach. Instead of relying solely on physical texture, it uses the ink-holding properties of various materials to create expressive marks and tonal contrasts. For example, water-based glue, hot glue, and certain acrylic mediums resist ink, printing as lighter or white areas. In contrast, a mixture of carborundum and matte medium holds ink well and prints a rich black. You can even create a surface similar to a mezzotint by coating nylon mesh with this mixture, then scraping away to reveal lighter areas.

What makes this process exciting is its flexibility—you’re free to combine painterly techniques with traditional ones. Add incised lines for intaglio effects or experiment with multiple plates to introduce color and complexity.

The painterly collagraph is quick, affordable, non-toxic, and low-tech, making it an accessible and rewarding medium for artists of all experience levels.

In this two-day workshop, you'll learn how to create, ink, and print your own painterly collagraph plates. Saturday morning will kick off with a demonstration of different techniques, followed by a hands-on session where you'll ink and print some prepared plates—and start making your own. We'll also work together on a collaborative matrix. On Sunday, you'll have more time to create new plates or refine the ones you started. The afternoon will focus on printing, and I’ll print our collaborative matrix so everyone goes home with a shared memento from the weekend.

Dates: February 21 & 22

Class Time: 10:00 am- 5:00 pm with lunch break

Cost: $260 + tax (all materials included)

Instructor: Janet Shagam

Janet Shagam is an Albuquerque-based printmaker. Her work has been shown and sold throughout the United States and in a few European, African, and Middle Eastern countries too. Traditional collagraphs were her introduction to the world of printmaking.