 |
| Burnishing the inked lino block |
We were asked recently about the type of press we use for our images and cards. The answer is that we don't use a press at all. Unlike many printmakers we have neither an Albion or a Heidelberg and don't have to worry about creating space in our studio for heavy or expensive equipment. The pictures we have recently exhibited are all the product of burnishing the reverse side of the paper after it has been placed on the inked block, as in the photograph above taken last during the process of printing cards for Bretforton Hall. All of our prints are made in this way. If the paper or card we are using is thick, such as for the Christmas cards, then we use a spoon (EPNS seems to give the best results). If the paper we are using is finer or more absorptive, such as a the Japanese ho sho, then we will use a Japenese baren of the type shown below.
The texture of the leaf-wrapped baren and the knotted string spiral allow the ink to be transferred from the inked block to the carefully positioned (registered) paper that is placed upon it. The spoon works in a similar manner, using physical pressure exerted by the printmaker to burnish a thin layer of ink onto the finished picture from the inked block beneath. Both methods are time consuming and physically demanding, but the end results are as near to perfection as could be wished for.
That said. If anyone has an old Albion Press going to waste somewhere, we would be happy to give it a good home. The silver plate is wearing off the spoon, and it doubles up its functions at mealtimes.
