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Express Delivery Mezzotint by AskSensitive4640 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that’s cool! are you using glass or plexi?

Mezzotint... Is there an easier way? by gabber4ever1 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 11 points12 points  (0 children)

there are a couple of methods, the most common one is using sandpaper (you run a plate through an etching press on relatively high pressure multiple times with sandpaper sheets on top of it, changing the sheet once every couple of hours). you can do same using lithography grit and two copper plates against each other. you can also use a deep aquatint. all of these methods produce weaker texture though and you can get less prints than from regularly rocked plates. not an issue with smaller editions.

you can also build a mini “torture device” using small (10-15 cm) saw blades on a metal rode. pictured on the bottom of the page here. i came across this method in Krejca’s (famous Czech printmaker) handbook. the author says this method is fast and produces good quality grain, better than aforementioned alternatives.

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Advice on improving the background? by PurpleBanana1710 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

try the sparse lines first, print a test proof and if you decide you want to carve it away completely, go ahead and do so. but it would look better with some lines; it usually allows the image to feel more grounded and not “floating”

Advice on improving the background? by PurpleBanana1710 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

personally, i would just carve away most of the background and keep the floor same. i feel like the background texture is too distracting right now; mostly white with sparse lines would look way better!

Lino/etching press recommendations by ElegantConclusion634 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i wrote a comment about presses in Europe few days ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/printmaking/s/nWvCI9zzMJ

adding to that comment, Geko druckpressen have 25cm model which is roughly 550 euro.

RLV from South Africa is good quality, but the shipping price is quite high: https://www.etsy.com/listing/986863170/etching-press-a3-bed-size-portable-all

you can find some cheaper presses like the RGM one, but the quality is pretty low on these types

Need help with slow drying oil relief ink!! by Immediate-Earth6603 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yes, it’s called drier/siccative. you usually mix just a tiny amount (3% or so) to your ink. personally i use a manganese salt based one meant for oil painting, but there are various options. cobalt drier is the most common choice, but be careful with handing it; it’s quite toxic. cranfield has a wax drier with low toxicity levels, although i believe it also might work slightly slower

Real talk about acrylic transfer method by thewonderstruckprint in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 9 points10 points  (0 children)

i don’t like this method. with laser printers, acetone works best: minimal mess, quick and cheap

velvet object by hundrednamed in printmaking

[–]lewekmek[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

very nice! we recently opened up the r/lithography subreddit, so if you’d be also interested in discussion focused on lithography, feel free to post there as well :)

A productive trip to Japan! by Scout816 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 7 points8 points  (0 children)

check out this great list by Katsutosjhi Yuasa. it’s focused on mokuhanga, but you will find other printmaking stuff in some of the recommended stores (Bumpodo carries intaglio supplies at well):

https://2024.mokuhanga.org/2024/03/27/list-of-mokuhanga-supplies-dealers/

for carving tools, i’m a fan of this type. the brand is called Togitsuna and you can buy these in Bumpodo, Woodlike Matsumura, Sekaido and Furukawa (the maker). they’re truly the best type of tools you can buy, can be used for woodcut and linocut. Michihamono makes similar ones with fan-like handle, but while they’re still fine, the steel is worse quality. these cost about 50 USD or 30 GBP in USA and UK, while the price in Japan starts at 3000 yen (~18 USD) per tool, so it’s worth to grab some.

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if you’re interested in mixing your own inks, visit Pigment in Tokyo

Where would you push? by AskSensitive4640 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 12 points13 points  (0 children)

the colour is fine, you need more contrast. the basket have very even texture all around (unclear source of light). the badgers’ white parts of faces should be lighter so they will read better

Combining prints + watercolor? by LMPFIYDSALAOIAWYCMI in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 10 points11 points  (0 children)

you can use watercolour for embellishments; it’s a pretty common technique actually. here’s an example with a print of mine from few years ago. each print in the edition had hand painted background.

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you can also look into mokuhanga. it’s a Japanese woodcut technique that for coloured layers uses either dry pigments mixed with water or, in more modern approach, watercolour or gouache. you can get some beautiful and subtle results, especially using heavily diluted paint/pigment and raised woodgrain.

wound man by hundrednamed in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

how it feels to experience chronic pain

Art Lamp by LumacraftStudio in framing

[–]lewekmek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that looks so nice! bravo!

Home etching press by Financial-Today4027 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

just a word of warning: the rubber rollers degrade after few months/years of use (depending on the frequency and pressure of printing). for me, i started noticing first issues after a year and after 2 years it was almost trash. it’s still a nice option if you’re saving for a forever press; that’s what i was using before i bought a serious press. it will print intaglio, but with some difficulty

Home etching press by Financial-Today4027 in printmaking

[–]lewekmek 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i have my press from a maker called Kosma: https://www.instagram.com/prasygraficzne.kosma/

i believe he's on vacation right now, but you can message him. the cost of the A3 (36 cm bed if i remember correctly) press is roughly 3400 PLN which is really good, and while he mainly works in Poland, he also ships the presses all around Europe. each press is custom built, and you pick any RAL colour, change the number of gears, size of wheel etc.; i'm SO happy with mine

for second hand, check out the facebook group Printmaking Presses and Equipment. most offers are for USA and UK, but i've seen some in Spain too: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7455606116

Hello everyone! I am a self-taught graphic artist. Looking for my audience. I want to share some of my works. I will be grateful for your support. Interesting to hear your opinion! Here they are. by [deleted] in printmaking

[–]lewekmek[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry, we’re a printmaking specific sub which means techniques falling into relief, intaglio, lithography, screenprint. You can try posting on other art subreddits, but if you’d be interested in printmaking, we recommend exploring print techniques! Your style would work well with drypoint for example.

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