Welcome back, printmakers! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the 71 new folks who joined The Inkplate community last week! This newsletter is written by a printmaker for printmakers and other artists.

In this week’s issue:

• Recap of Week 1: Design

• Artist Highlight: Anthony TungNing Huang

• Question Time!

• Studio Web Store Update

Let’s dive in!

Recap Week 1: Design

It was so nice to launch this workshop series! I was not expecting many people to show up but we had 646 folks drop by the first Instagram live class. It peaked at a viewer number of 113! Thank you to Speedball for making this possible.

If you missed the live stream, don't worry you can watch it here. I am in the process of getting back to DM’s regarding the class. If I have not gotten back to you, know I will!

In this first session we:

1. Learned the differences between battleship linoleum and easy carve materials.

2. Learned how to use transfer and carbon paper to transfer our designs.

3. We used transfer paper to easily transfer a design into an easy carve.

4. We prepped our blocks by sanding them and staining them with India ink and a cotton swab.

5. We learned that battleship linoleum has a shelf life, and we should not leave it in humid places or in direct sunlight.

6. Old linoleum can be hard to carve, snap easy, and turn yellow when old.

7. A light coat of linseed oil will moisten the linoleum, but it will not bring a brick hard linoleum back from printmaking dead.

The next live class will be Saturday, February 18th at 9:00 AM PST. We will be going over how to sharpen and hone tools as well as conduct a quick carving exercise.

If you want to join the class but are not sure which materials to use, here is a list with items I am suggesting.

Artist Highlight: Anthony Tungning Huang

Technique: Relief, Lithography, Monotype & Etching.

Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Instagram: @nirvana.chaos 

We return with the Artist Highlight this week! In 2022, I spoke with Anthony about what he does to get out of a creative block..among other things! This conversation was one of the most wholesome and was full of many truths.

You can read the whole interview with Anthony at the link below!

Question Time!

Do you have a printmaking or artist-related question that you would like me to answer?

You can either reply to this email or let me know here!

Hi Grey. Thanks for your question!

I am a strong believer that a press is not necessary to get started in relief printmaking. I have been working for some years without a press and I have been able to make lino and woodcuts just fine.

When printing by hand, you always have to think of your bandwidth. How many prints are you thinking of pulling in one session? Do you have the time to pull them all in one sitting or will you divide it through several days? Also, what kind of paper are you using?

Using low weight papers will make it easier to print by hand. Try using Mulberry paper or anything under 175gsm. I personally love Rives BFK 115-175gsm sheets. A more affordable option is Blick Masterprint Paper 75gsm. Thinner papers will require less pressure to transfer the image and you will be surprised how absorbent they still can be.

As to gel printing, I would not worry about a press at all. The amount of pressure this would exert on the gel block would distort your design. This type of monotype can be done totally by hand.

When it comes to reduction prints, you can approach it in two ways. Plan everything ahead of time or simply cut each layer organically (of course this would totally depend on your design). When it comes to color application, think of watercolors. Start by applying the lightest colors first and work your way to the darkest ones at the very end.

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out if you have another question!

Studio Web Store

My store temporarily closed on Friday, February 10. I will be transitioning to a new website and store provider. I originally had planned to reopen this week, but I will have to push that a bit.

The tentative relaunch day at www.danielvillart.com will be President’s Day on Monday, February 20th 2023. Thanks for your patience and support.

Before You Go,

• Want to be part of the ‘Artist Highlight’ or know of someone who might be, fill out this interest form!

• Do you have a printmaking or artist-related question you want me to answer? Reply to this email and let me know!

-Daniel