Me in my happy place at Black Church Print studio

The processes of printmaking are shown in pictures below.

I initially sketch my ideas, and then draw them onto hard clear plastic acetate, using a little engraver tool. This makes small grooves in the plate as I draw. This way of making a plate is called drypoint.

When I am happy with this drawing I put ink on the plate and wipe the excess off. In drypoint and etching it is the ink that remains in the lines that make the image-unlike lino printing where the surface makes the image Sometimes I roll a little extra colour on- in this case blue. Other times I layer plates inked in different colours in turn to create different tones and colours.

I place the plate on the bed of the press. I take a small piece of paper which has been soaking in water and squeegee off the excess, and then carefully place it on the plate. (I print to the edge of the paper, others leave border all the way around)

Then I roll it through and lift carefully!

Photos by @Lisa_maslovskaya.