About Collagraphy

What's a Collagraph?

• A collagraph [kol-uh-graf] is a print resulting from a technique that involves building up textures and shapes on the matrix. This can involve gluing different materials onto the matrix to create a unique design and texture. The mix of textures and shapes on the matrix will form the image for the print.

• Once the artist is satisfied with the plate, ink is applied onto the matrix. The excess ink on the surface is then carefully wiped away. To transfer this image onto paper, the artist applies pressure using a press. The press pushes the ink in the textures onto the paper, creating a print that captures the variation in texture details from the collagraph matrix. Experiment to find something interesting!

A Brief History

• Since the 20th century, artists have been creating printmaking matrices by collaging various items to a flat plate. In the 1950s, Glen Alps promoted the technique and coined the term "collagraph," which comes from the Greek terms colla (glue) and graph (write/draw). Many artists have experimented with using a wide range of materials like fabrics, paper, string, sandpaper, and even found objects like leaves or garbage. What kinds of materials do you think may make some interesting textures?

Examples of collagraph prints: 

• 1. Collagraph #1, by Glen Alps (1956)

  2. The Three Chickens, by Glen Alps (1958–1959)

  3. Omaggio a Braccelli, by Paolo Boni (1968)

  4. The Baptism, by Romare Bearden (c. 1972)

  5. Christmas Card, by Harry Hoehn (1973)

  6. The Supper, by Belkis Ayón (1991)

  7. Niñez, by Marisa Boullosa (2015)

Adaptations for the Classroom

• Collagraph fits well in any classroom as it can be done with simple materials and doesn't require any specialized tools. We use stickers to make the process even simpler and faster, but students could easily experiment with gluing all kinds of thin materials to their matrix.

Teacher Resources

Links to Check Out

• [video] Art Studio: Collagraph Printmaking, by Bronx Museum Education

• [video] How to print a collagraph plate without a press with Vicky Oldfield, by West Dean College

• [video] Collograph tutorial, by Nell Smith

• [video] HOW TO MAKE COLLAGRAPH PRINT PLATES, by Snake Artist Prints

• [video] Making Textile Collagraph Prints with a Gelli Arts® Printing Plate by Marsha Valk, by Gelli Arts