版画艺术

The core task of this step is to determine printmaking creation theme and conduct drawing design, laying creative foundation for printmaking production. Printmaking is an indirect art; the drawing is the blueprint for plate making. A good print creation requires not only a good theme but also consideration of the artistic characteristics and technical features of printmaking, so that creative content and expression form complement each other.

• Determine creation theme and print type, choose specific print type such as woodblock, intaglio, lithography, silkscreen, etc., understand artistic characteristics and expression language of different print types, determine creation direction
• Conduct drawing design, carry out creative conception according to theme and print characteristics, draw multiple sketches, explore different compositions, forms, black-and-white relationships and expression techniques, determine final drawing scheme
• Make final drawings and color separation drafts, enlarge the drawing to formal size, make precise final drawing, design color separation scheme according to print type and number of colors, clarify graphics and colors of each plate, prepare for plate making

This step is the core technical phase of printmaking creation, transferring the drawing onto the plate material and producing printing plates through various plate making techniques. Plate making is the key process of printmaking; different print types have different plate making methods and technical requirements. Through exquisite plate making skills, transform the artist's creativity into printable plates.

• Prepare plate materials and tools, select appropriate plate materials (wood, copper, stone, screen, etc.) according to print type, prepare corresponding plate making tools and materials, perform necessary pre-treatment on plate materials (polishing, grounding, degreasing, etc.)
• Conduct image transfer and plate making, use corresponding transfer methods (copying, carbon paper, direct drawing, photopolymer, etc.) to transfer drawing onto plate material, apply various plate making techniques for carving, etching, drawing, exposure and other plate making processes
• Perform proofing and plate revision, print test prints, check plate making effect, revise and adjust plate against original drawing, repeatedly proof and modify until the plate achieves satisfactory effect

This step is the printing experimentation phase of printmaking creation, exploring various printing techniques and effects. Printing is an important part of printmaking art; different inks, papers, pressures, printing methods produce completely different artistic effects. Through extensive printing experiments, find the best printing scheme and artistic expression language.

• Prepare printing materials and equipment, select appropriate inks (oil-based, water-based), papers (printmaking paper, rice paper, copperplate paper), printing equipment (press, wooden baren, squeegee), etc., adjust ink consistency and color
• Conduct printing technique experiments, try different printing methods and techniques, such as hand printing, press printing, intaglio, relief, planographic, screen, as well as various special effects (texture, gradient, overprinting, collage, etc.)
• Perform color separation overprinting tests, for multi-color prints, conduct multi-plate printing experiments, adjust color, transparency, overprinting order of each plate, study color mixing and overprinting effects, determine final printing scheme

This step is the formal production phase of printmaking creation, conducting formal printing according to the determined scheme to produce limited edition prints. The charm of printmaking lies in its multiplicity, but each piece is an original work. Professional printing and standardized numbering/signing are important manifestations of the value of print works, and also the basic professional quality of print artists.

• Conduct formal printing, follow standard printing workflow for proofing, printing, drying, ensure stable quality of each work, consistent color, registration, and pressure, produce a specified number of print works
• Conduct work numbering and signing, according to international convention number the work with pencil at the bottom (e.g., 12/50), mark work title, sign artist name and creation year, ensure uniqueness and traceability of each work
• Conduct quality inspection and screening, check printing quality of each work, screen out qualified works, mark defective works (A.P. artist proof, B.A.T. bon à tirer), establish work archive

This step is the concluding phase of printmaking creation, conducting work mounting/presentation and creation summary. Good works need good presentation methods; professional mounting can better showcase the artistic value of the work. At the same time, through creation summary and reflection, sort out experience, accumulate experience for future creations.

• Conduct work mounting and exhibition, choose appropriate mounting methods (mat board mounting, frame mounting, acid-free mounting, etc.), use acid-free materials for professional mounting, protect the work and enhance display effect
• Organize creation archive, properlypreserve all creation materials including plates, trial proofs, formal works, creative sketches, reference materials, etc., establish complete creation archive, convenient for future research and review
• Write creation summary and reflections, summarize experience and lessons from this printmaking creation, analyze advantages and disadvantages of the work, reflect on gains and problems during creation process, formulate subsequent learning plan