Maggie Humphry


Riders in the Snow.


Wrekin Fan.




P.V.A. glues have revolutionised printing methods. Printing a collagraph is exactly the same process as inking up and printing a metal etching plate without need of nitric acid, hot plates, soft ground, stopping out varnish etc, etc. All you need is a piece of card (preferably with a shiny surface), P.V.A. glue, P.V.A. varnish and various bits and pieces to create your image. Take you card and ..........

* You can scratch or draw your into the surface of the card with a sharp point.

* You can stick tin foil, string or any flat material which has a textured surface. Some materials are more absorbent that others but you will learn by experience.

* You can stick leaves and ferns from your garden.

* You can cut holes in the card so when printing the colour of the paper onto which you print comes through.

* You can peel off some of the surface of the card.

If you work on a hot plate the glue will dry Quicker. You can make a hot plate on your kitchen cooker with a baking tray. Use a brush to push the leaves and other objects firmly onto the surface of the card.

When you have stuck everything on and the glue is dry give the whole plate several coats of P.V.A. varnish, waiting until each coat is dry before painting the next one. If your card is thin it may be a good idea to stick another piece on the back to make it thicker.

You do need printing ink and etching paper then search out your nearest friendly press. If you are unsure my advice is to do a course for a couple of days to give you confidence.

The only disadvantage of a collagraph is that you cant print many prints as an etching plate. (usually 12--15 prints), but if you varnish them well (on the reverse also) you may get many more before the plate starts to break down. I have printed 35 from one plate and it was still perfect so I could have printed more.

See more examples of Maggies work on her website  Maggie Humphrey at 'Pink House'