Lithography Transfer printing on Clay

Class Description

Litho-type printing technique – Printing on clay This process is based on lithograph printing process – which relies on the fact that water and grease do not mix. This is a technique of transferring a photocopied images onto a clay surface, which then can be fired, with or without glaze. It is called the “poor man’s lithography process. It is a technique that can be used in place of screen printing or other transfer techniques. It can be used on top of coloured slip, on leather hard clay, either tiles or vertical surfaces, or on soft clay which can be manipulated and shaped after printing. It is possible to do layers of prints in different colours, and reuse a paper print, if they don’t rip or tear during the printing process. Prerequisites: Beginners to advanced. Knowledge of ceramic processes is helpful but not a requirement. Printmakers will enjoy learning this process. Student need to bring with them: * Clay slabs prepared to print on, these can be cut into tiles of different sizes on the day - white clay is give best results. * Images for Printing Have your photocopied images ready. Cut to the size of your clay tiles can happen later (*leave a white edge around the image to hold). It pays to get your images copied at a commercial printer; this guarantees your images will work. I’ve found 80gsm paper the best. Some printers use 100gsm, this paper takes longer to work but is re-useable. · Images/photographs/drawings need to be photocopied to work in this process. It is the properties of the photocopy ink (laser copiers are ok) which is essential for the process to work, it’s the toner in the printers that’s key, not bubble jet (home) printer. · Remember to reverse an image if you want it the right way around when printed or if it contains words. · Line drawings, good black and white contrast photos will work. · Have several copies of the same images, so if you make a mistake, you have some back-ups. Prepare your clay slabs (or vessels plates or cylinders) ahead of time. The clay needs to leather hard, not dry and have a smooth surface for best possible registration of prints. Bring a rubber kidney to remove texture. I find white clay gives best results. If you can’t prepare your clay before the workshop – don’t sweat, you can make some slabs at the beginning of the workshop and let the firm up. Clay is available for purchasing. Firing / glazing cost extra. No membership discount available for this workshop.