Collagraph printmaking using Tetra Pak

You might have seen glimpses of a new printmaking series on Instagram, and I thought I tell you a bit more about it.

The printing plates are made using recycled Tetra Paks, and the prints have an aged look – you can almost feel that something old or used is involved. So far, I have managed only a few prints from each plate and the prints all have their individual quirks.

How It’s Done

STEP 1 – First, I open the carton, wash it, and let it dry. Then, I place the design, taking the folds and creases of the carton into account, and cut the plate.

STEP 2 – I scratch the design into the surface with an etching needle, or remove the coating completely for extra dark shading.

STEP 3 – Once the plate is completed, I ink it like any other intaglio plate and run it through the etching press.

The grey shading is amazing, but for this series I mix the colours on the plate, and touch-up the prints with coloured pencils to give the design some more vibrance.

And that’s how it’s done … or how I do it!

Resources

Watch the great Tetra Pak Etching Movie by The Virtual Art Room on Youtube, or follow the amazing Karen Wicks @iacartroom on Instagram for more tutorials.