Monday, February 28, 2011

Assignment 7 - Lithograph Research

The technique of stone lithography involves using a stone slab, a grease pencil (or other water repellent medium),  water, and ink. Essentially stone lithography begins with a prepared flat slab of stone. The stone is then drawn/painted on using a grease pencil or greased paintbrush. Once the image has been completed, the artist then uses nitric acid to 'etch' the image onto the stone. During this process the blank areas are desensitized to not accept ink, while the image portion is sensitized and is better able to receive the ink. Once the image has been etched into the stone, it is prepped with asphaltum which adds the grease to the image. Now the portions meant to accept ink, will do so. The stone is now prepped with water. The water repels the ink, and thus will prevent the blank areas from receiving ink. The image is inked thoroughly, and printed on its desired medium. One stone will be good for around 200 prints.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/sl-443.jpg

The marks produced from this printing technique reveals a kind of 'grainy' or 'crayon like' surface. Stone Lithograph prints with a variety of colors tend to look soft, because of the multiple colors printed over one another. The process can either be as controlled, or as rough as the artist desires.




Artists who work with stone lithography:
Toby Michel
Michael Parkes
Ken Pattern

For more information:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/stone-lithography.htm

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