Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

In s3e59, Platemark host Ann Shafer sits down with David Avery to talk shop. David is an etcher, who restrains his work in both size and palette, but manages to tackle big topics. His social commentary is stinging and remarkable in that it comes in such a small package. These etchings pack a punch.

Ann and David talk about absurdist literature, standing on the shoulders of giants (Dürer, Max Klinger, Della Bella), how prescient Goltzius's Disgracers are, and how we could never have imagined the state of our politics—reality is outstripping our imaginations.

Cover image: Patricia Avery

Max Klinger (German, 1857–1920). Abduction (plate 9 from Paraphrase on the Finding of a Glove), 1881. Etching, drypoint, and aquatint on chine collé. Sheet: 18 15/16 x 26 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Obeliscolycny, 2013. Etching. Plate: 27 ¾ x 5 in.; sheet: 33 5/8 x 10 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Safe, Clean, Cheap: Phaethon in the 21st Century, 2011. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Too Close to the Sun, 2013. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Running on Empty, 2016. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Mendacia Ridicula (The Wheel of Ixion), 2018. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 12 x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Hendrick Goltzius (Dutch, 1558–1617). After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, 1562–1638). The Four Disgracers, 1588. Engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Ship of Fools (Das Narrenschiff), 2018.Etching. Plate: 14 ¼ x 7 ½ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). After the Deluge, 2022. Etching. Plate: 10 ½ x 7 ¾ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Becalmed, 2023. Etching. Plate: 6 x 15 ¾ in.; sheet: 10 x 18 ¾ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Concerning The Great Ship MOUR-DE-ZENCLE, 2016. Etching. Plate: 12 ¾ x 6 ¼ in.; sheet: 18 ¼ x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David's galleries

https://www.inclusionsgallery.com/

https://www.warnockfinearts.com/david-avery

https://childsgallery.com/artist/david-avery/

In s3e59, Platemark host Ann Shafer continues talking to artists included in Print Austin's 5x5 exhibition, juried by Myzska Lewis, a curator at Tandem Press. Second up is Anna Trojanowska, an artist and lithographer from Wroclaw, Poland. Anna creates collages made from lithographs, which she creates on a single marble slab in her garage studio. The works included in 5x5 seek to give the feeling of echolalia, a form of autism in which words and phrases are repeated over and over. That repetition is a central part of the collages and gives the feeling of uncontrolled reverberation.

Ann and Anna talk about falling in love with lithography, what it's like to use marble instead of limestone, how the veins in marble wander as the stone is ground down, how to transfer sound into images, and the surprise technique she would turn to if she had to give up lithography.

Cover image by Marcin Simonides

Anna Trojanowska (Polish, born 1978). Echolalia_12, 2022. Carrara marble lithograph, collage. 16 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Anna Trojanowska (Polish, born 1978). Echolalia_14, 2022. Carrara marble lithograph, collage. 16 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Anna Trojanowska (Polish, born 1978). Echolalia_16, 2022. Carrara marble lithograph, collage. 16 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Anna Trojanowska (Polish, born 1978). Echolalia_19, 2022. Carrara marble lithograph, collage. 16 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Anna Trojanowska (Polish, born 1978). Echolalia_20, 2022. Carrara marble lithograph, collage. 16 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Anna's website: https://litografia.pl/en/authors/

In s3e57, Platemark host Ann Shafer speaks with Karen Kunc, an artist who manipulates reduction woodcuts in an amazing and unique way. Karen is a retired professor from the University of Nebraska, and is owner of Constellation Studios in downtown Lincoln. At the studio, which opened ten years ago, Karen offers workshops, curates exhibitions, and makes her own work. The studio includes equipment for papermaking, book arts, letterpress, and other means of creating prints.

Karen's work includes relief prints and artist books reflecting her signature nature-based lyrical abstraction. These images could be macro or micro: the biomorphic shapes could be aerial images of her native Nebraska, or the wiggles and squiggles could be forms held within our cells. Each print becomes a portal to an alternate reality, where the boundaries between the tangible and the intangible blur, inviting us to explore the complexities of our earthly domain.

This all sounds simple, but Karen's process is anything but. She uses stencils, fingers, hands, brushes and any other tool to gain amazing transitions between forms. Plus, she intuitively solves compositional challenges as she goes. Karen is an artist's artist whose groundbreaking woodcuts will amaze and delight you.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Array of Raressence, 2018. Woodcut. 72 x 26 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Coral Sanctuary, 2019. Woodcut. 72 x 26 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Blue Cascade, 2020. Woodcut. 14 1/2 x 42 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Gatherings, 2021. Woodcut. 14 x 29 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Distillation, 2018. Woodcut, etching, pochoir, and watercolor. 12 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Sacred Allegori, 2018. Woodcut, etching, pochoir, and watercolor. 24 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Drifts of Ice & Gold, 2022. Woodcut. 17 x 56 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Blooms of the Present Moment, 2023. Woodcut. 17 x 56 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Waves of Riches, 2016. Woodcut and pochoir. 13 1/2 x 57 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Panoply, 2016. Woodcut and pochoir. 13 1/2 x 57. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Verse from Macrocosmica, 2010. Woodcut. 29 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Release, 2020–21. Accordion-folded volume with etching, woodcut, and letterpress on various Japanese Nishinouchi papers. Closed: 7 x 4 in.; open: 7 x 56 in. Published by Blue Heron Press at Constellation Studios, Lincoln, Nebraska. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). The Way of Water, 2024. Accordion-folded volume with woodcut and letterpress on Japanese Nishinouchi. Closed: 11 x 7 1/2 in.; open: 11 x 45 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kunc (American, born 1952). Incessant White Noise, 2013. Accordion-folded volume with woodcut and letterpress on Japanese Nishinouchi. Closed: 11 x 5 in; open: 11 x 35 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Constellation Studios, Lincoln, NE.

In s3e56, Platemark host Ann Shafer introduces a five-part miniseries with the artists in 5X5, an exhibition that was part of PrintAustin 2024. First up is Briar Craig, one of five artists selected for inclusion in 5X5 by juror J. Myszka Lewis, curator at Tandem Press, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Briar is an artist and professor at University of British Columbia, Kelowna. He primarily works in screenprint, using found text and surprising juxtapositions. Ann and Briar talk about words and their unlikely combinations, Dada poetry, UV screenprints, his favorite color, and the only text-based tattoo that has tempted him so far.

Briar Craig (Canadian, born 1961). UTOPIAN VACUUM, 2017. UV screenprint. 40 x 28 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Briar Craig (Canadian, born 1961). An Uncomfortable Situation Will Soon be Eased, UV screenprint. 40 x 28 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Installation view of Briar Craig: README. January 29–April 17, 2022. Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Briar Craig (Canadian, born 1961). White Wash Privilege, 2014. UV screenprint. 40 x 28 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Sam Gilliam (American, 1933–2022). 3 PM School Bus, 2018. Screenprint. 18 ½ x 51 ½. Published by Lily Press, Rockville, MD. All rights reserved. Courtesy of Lily Press.

Sam Gilliam (American, 1933–2022). 4 PM School Bus, 2018. Screenprint. 18 ½ x 51 ½. Published by Lily Press, Rockville, MD. All rights reserved. Courtesy of Lily Press.

Briar Craig (Canadian, born 1961). There Is Nothing You Can't Do, 2017. Neon. 120 x 38 x 5 in. (305 x 97 x 12.5 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.

USEFUL LINKS

Briar's website www.briarcraig.com

Briar's video about printing White Wash Privilege https://youtu.be/o-NCS2IwSGc?si=0b_PoHveHf98RvFN

In s3e55, Platemark host Ann Shafer speaks with Miguel A. Aragón, artist and professor at the City University of New York, Staten Island. They talk about CNC routers, drills as woodcutting tools, growing up in Juarez, Mexico, and that city's war on drugs as a subject in his art. He weaves a tight conceptual circle in prints that explore violence, death, perception, and memory in surprisingly subtle works.

Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Espectadores (Spectators), from the series Meoria Fracturada, 2013. Burnt residue embossment. 11 x 15 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 18, negro (Portrait 18, black), 2008. Hand-drilled paper with drywall dust. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 18, negro (Portrait 18, white), 2008. Hand-drilled paper. Each: 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 06, panel de yeso (Portrait 06, drywall). Hand-drilled drywall. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Miguel A. Aragón drilling into drywall for the Retrato series.

Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 06, panel de yeso (Portrait 06, drywall). Hand-drilled drywall. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the artist. Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Aplacado (el Veladero) [Appeased (el Veladero)], 2016. Woodcut. Image: 48 x 36 in.; sheet: 51 ½ x 38 ½ in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.

Miguel A. Aragón working at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, CA.

Miguel A. Aragón working at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica di Venezia in Venice, Italy.

Miguel A. Aragón working at Zygote Press in Cleveland, OH.

Miguel A. Aragón working with Wuon Gean Ho at East London Printmakers.

Studio view of the Edinburgh Printmakers in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Studio view of the Glasgow Print Studio in Glasgow, Scotland

Studio view of the Grafikwerkstatt Dresden in Dresden, Germany.

Michael Barnes working at the Steindruck München Lithografie-Werkstatt in Munich, Germany.

Miguel A. Aragón's mother's doilies at the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, OH.

Miguel A. Aragón. 26.06.2009, 20:07:31. Color lithograph. Sheet: 27.5 x 22 in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.

Miguel A. Aragón. Index: 2170. Color lithograph. Sheet: 27 1/2 x 22 in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.

Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.

Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.

Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.

In s3e54, Platemark host Ann Shafer talks with Andrew Raftery, artist, professor, scholar, and wallpaper designer. Andrew works in several modes, most notably in engraving. The through line in the work is domesticity. An early print featured a young man suit shopping. Next was a portfolio of engravings detailing rooms during a real estate open house. Then engravings representing each month in the life of a garden were transferred to twelve dinnerplates and sold as a set. His latest show included watercolors depicting historical interior rooms that feature French and Chinese wallpapers. He also produces letterpress wallpapers himself.

Ann and Andrew talk about how engraving shows itself completely—there is no secret to how it is made, the inscrutability of Vermeer's paintings, the importance of understanding the history of prints, how the transfer process works with ceramic dinnerware, how French and Chinese wallpapers were made (some were hand painted!), and hatboxes.

Images of Andrew's art are by Erik Gould; Andrew's headshot is by Ned Lochaya. Andrew is represented by Mary Ryan Gallery.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Human Resources, 1990s. Engraving (unfinished). Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Exterior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Interior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Diptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Triptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 1 (living room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 2 (dining room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 3 (kitchen) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 4 (hallway) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 5 (bedroom) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (recto) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (verso) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). February from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). March from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). April from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). May from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). June from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). July from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Study for August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Pen and ink. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). September from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Figure model for October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). November from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). December from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Installation shot of Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16, at Mary Ryan Gallery. Courtesy of the artist.

Clare Leighton (American, 1898–1989). New England Industries, c. 1952. Set of twelve dinner plates. Live Auctioneers.

Paul Scott (British, born 1953). Gardens of Lyra, 2020. Set of dinnerware produced for Fortnum and Mason.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winter: Weeds, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Winter wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Spring: Irises, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Spring wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Summer: Scutellarioides, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Autumn: Amaranths, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Autumn wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Green Wall, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Green Wall wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery and Dan Wood printing wallpaper.

Working materials for wallpaper.

Working materials for wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery's studio.

Winterthur, Garden & Library, Delaware.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winterthur, Baltimore Drinking Room with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist. And the artist working in situ.

Corliss-Carrington House, Providence.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Corliss-Carrington House, Providence, East Parlor with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Corliss-Carrington House, Providence, Telemachus on the Island of Calypso by Dufour: Garden of Calypso, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winterthur, Philadelphia Bedroom with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Private Residence, Delaware, Zuber's View of North America, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Handicraft Club, Providence.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Handicraft Club, Providence, Great Tiger Hunt of India, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Handicraft Club, Providence, Great Tiger Hunt of India, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Redwood Library, Newport.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Powderhouse Bandbox, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Powderhouse Bandbox with open lid, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Monogrammist ASR's Hatbox, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

In s3e53 of Platemark, hosts Ann Shafer and Tru Ludwig conclude their conversation with Carol Wax, artist and author of The Mezzotint: History and Technique. Carol recently published the second edition of The Mezzotint, expanding greatly in every area from the 1990 first edition. As she tells us, there is a better break down of rocking the copper plates, and of inking and printing them, plus there are new chapters about printing papers and the history of the medium and how it fits in the greater history of prints.

They talk about the early history of mezzotint, whether one can over rock a plate, what happens when you do, and about Carol's dislike of perspectival composition, all the machines and their personalities, and her dogs Cecil, the Weimaraner, and Delia, the new dog in her life. The conversation ran long, so the episode is split into two parts.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer I, 1984. Mezzotint. 11 ½ x 8 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a beautiful tensile piece of copper (ground exact same way as Singer II, but totally different experience and different result).

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer II, 1985. Mezzotint. 14 ½ x 7 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a brittle copper – two of several state proofs illustrating process of solving technical problem and the finished state. This process led directly to historical research that resulted in my writing The Mezzotint: History and Technique.

John Martin (British, 1789–1854). Belshazzar's Feast, 1826. Mezzotint. Plate: 23 ½ x 32 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Martin's large plate was printed with up to eight different inks to enhance the tonal range and compensate for the peculiarities of mezzotints engraved on steel.

Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Frans Snyder (Flemish, 1579–1657). A Game Market, 1783. Mezzotint and etching. Plate: 16 ½ x 22 ¾ in. New York Public Library, New York.

Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682–1749). A Flower Piece, 1778. Etching (early state before mezzotint). Plate: 558 x 420 mm. (21 15/16 x 16 9/16 in.). Yale Center for British Art, New Haven.

[Right] Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682–1749). A Flower Piece, 1778. Mezzotint and etching. Plate: 558 x 420 mm. (21 15/16 x 16 9/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851) and Charles Turner (British, 1774–1857). Scene from the French Coast (Liber Studiorum, plate 4), 1807. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 20.9 x 29.1 cm. (8 ¼ x 11 7/16 in.). Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

[DETAIL] J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851) and Charles Turner (British, 1774–1857). Scene from the French Coast (Liber Studiorum, plate 4), 1807. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 20.9 x 29.1 cm. (8 ¼ x 11 7/16 in.). Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

Thomas Goff Lupton (British, 1791–1873), after Thomas Girtin (British, 1775–1802). Chelsea Reach, Looking toward Battersea, from the series Gems of Art, 1825. Mezzotint and engraving. Sheet: 260 x 341 mm. (10 1/4 x 13 7/16 in.); plate: 168 x 252 mm. (6 5/8 x 9 15/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). The Old Clothesline, 1983. Mezzotint. 11 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Fanfare, 1983. Mezzotint. 16 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was the first image I did with a mechanical subject and the first time I subtracted so much of the background.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer I, 1984. Mezzotint. 11 ½ x 8 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a beautiful tensile piece of copper (ground exact same way as Singer II, but totally different experience and different result).

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Under Wraps, 2008. Mezzotint. 16 x 20 in. Courtesy of the artist. One of many images of animate/inanimate objects. This series turns the table and uses fabric to objectify a living subject. This project is also an example of how different grounds can be used creatively: the plate was ground with an 85-gauge rocker, but the dog parts were scraped down and reground with a 120-gauge roulette to differentiate textures between fabric and fur. The whiskers were engraved with a burin.

Carol's wall of inspiration.

[Left] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Remington Noiseless, 1986. Mezzotint. 20 x 16 in. Courtesy of the artist. Remington Noiseless illustrates stylized shadows before working for Philip Pearlstein.

[Right] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Remington Return, 1993. Mezzotint. 18 ½ x 24 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist. Reflects Pearlstein's influence as well as more sophisticated technique and confidence acquired while writing the book.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Glad Tidings, 1993. Two relief intaglio holiday cards. Each: 3 x 2 9/10 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Missing Peace, 2001. Relief intaglio. 5 x 1 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Fortune's Fool, 2020. Gouache. 8 ¼ x 9 1/4 inches. Courtesy of the artist. This clown puppet represents Trump, seen here being devoured for lunch by the Chinese, and while he thinks he's sticking it to their butt (the pencil sharpener from Chinatown), he's only sharpening their strategies.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Butterfly Effect, 2018. Gouache. 22 x 14 in. Courtesy of the artist. The pulley is a commentary on our convoluted election system that is subject to all kinds of whims.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Rigged, 2018. Gouache. 20 x 24 in. Courtesy of the artist. This image is about how the system is rigged.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Underhanded, 2020. Gouache. 21 x 14 in. Courtesy of the artist. This image is about a few things (manipulation, power, etc.), but think "George Floyd." The political undertones of my paintings have found their way into recent mezzotints.

Frederick Mershimer (American, born 1958). Various states of The Great Divide/42nd Street, 1994–97. Mezzotint. Mershimer is a master at making corrections/changes–the likes of which have not been seen since the 17th century. Here is a prime example where he seamlessly changed the focus of a print by removing and moving figures and reissued the plate with a [deservedly] different title.

USEFUL LINKS

Carol's website https://www.carolwax.com/

Jennifer Melby's link https://www.jennifermelby.com/

Conrad Graeber's link https://conradgraeber.com/

In s3e52 of Platemark, hosts Ann Shafer and Tru Ludwig talk with Carol Wax, artist and author of The Mezzotint: History and Technique. Carol recently published the second edition of The Mezzotint, expanding greatly in every area from the 1990 first edition. As she tells us, there is a better break down of rocking the copper plates, and of inking and printing them, plus there are new chapters about printing papers and the history of the medium and how it fits in the greater history of prints.

They talk about the early history of mezzotint, whether one can over rock a plate, what happens when you do, and about Carol's dislike of perspectival composition, all the machines and their personalities, and her dogs Cecil, the Weimaraner, and Delia, the new dog in her life. The conversation ran long, so the episode is split into two parts.

[Top] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Eleven Shells, 1982. Mezzotint. 2 ¾ x 5 inches. Courtesy of the artist. First mezzotint I felt comfortable signing and which shows the influence of Hamaguchi.

{Bottom] Yozo Hamaguchi (Japanese, 1909–2000). Shells. Mezzotint.

John Raphael Smith (British, 1751–1812), after Henry Fuseli (Swiss, 1741–1825). The Weird Sisters (Shakespeare, MacBeth, Act 1, Scene 3), 1785. Mezzotint. Sheet: 18 1/16 x 21 7/8 in. (45.8 x 55.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

[Left] John Raphael Smith (British, 1751–1812), after Sir Joshua Reynolds (British, 1723–1792). The Infant Jupiter, 1775. Mezzotint. Plate: 20 x 14 in. New York Public Library, New York.

[Right] Valentine Green (British, 1739–1813), after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Flemish, 1599–1641). The Earl of Danby, 1775. Mezzotint. Sheet: 20 7/8 x 13 7/8 in. Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Carol Wax. The Mezzotint: History and Technique (2nd Edition). Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2023.

Hendrick Goltzius (Dutch, 1558–1617). After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, 1562–1638). Icarus, from the series The Four Disgracers, 1588. Engraving. Sheet: 13 7/16 x 13 1/4 in. (34.2 x 33.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Ludwig von Siegen (German, 1609–after 1676). Amelia Elizabeth Landgravure of Hesse-Kassel, 1642. Mezzotint. Sheet: 16 7/16 x 11 15/16 in. (41.8 x 30.3 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Prince Rupert (German, 1619–1682). Head of the Executioner, 1662. Mezzotint. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Institution, New York.

Theodor Caspar von Fürstenburg (German, 1615–1675). Salomé, 1656–75. Mezzotint. 191 x 149 mm. British Museum, London.

David Lucas (British, 1802–1881), after John Constable (British, 1776–1837). The Rainbow, Salisbury Cathedral, 1855. Mezzotint. Sheet: 24 ¼ x 28 ¼ in. (61.5 x 71.7 cm.). Christie's.

Thomas Frye (British, 1710/11–1762). Head of a Man Wearing a Turban, 1760. Mezzotint. Plate: 19 7/8 × 13 15/16 in. (50.5 × 35.4 cm.); sheet: 23 3/8 × 16 15/16 in. (59.4 × 43 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Valentine Green (British, 1739–1813), after Joseph Wright of Derby (British, 1734–1797). A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump, 1769. Mezzotint. Plate: 19 × 23 in. (48.3 × 58.4 cm.). Sheet: 19 7/8 × 25 5/8 in. (50.5 × 65.1 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Joseph Pennell (American, 1857–1926). Hail America, 1908. Mezzotint. Plate: 8 7/16 × 14 11/16 in. (21.5 × 37.3 cm.); sheet: 9 7/8 × 15 3/4 in. (25.1 × 40 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Reynold Weidenaar (American, 1915–1985). The Bridge and the Storm, Mackinac Straits, 1957. Mezzotint. Sheet: 19 5/8 x 15 ½ in. Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Mackinac.

Mario Avati (French, 1921–2009). Le Goût acide du jaune citron, 1982. Mezzotint. 29 x 37.7 cm. Fitch Febvrel Gallery.

Yozo Hamaguchi (Japanese, 1909–2000). The Three Lemons, 1956. Color mezzotint. Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland.

Art Werger (American, born 1955). Clarity, 2021. Mezzotint. 24 x 36 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Craig McPherson (American, born 1948). Memento Mori, 2013. Mezzotint. 13 5/8 x 16 ½ in. Courtesy of the artist.

Judith Rothchild (American, born 1950). Le nid, 2005. Mezzotint. 7 13/16 x 11 5/8 in. Annex Galleries, Santa Rosa.

Jacob Crook (American, born 1985). Nightrise II, 2019. Mezzotint. 8 ½ x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Julie Niskanen (American, born 1983). Sanctuary, 2007. Mezzotint. Courtesy of the artist.

Charles Ritchie (American, born 1954). House II, 2012–19. Mezzotint. Plate: 6 x 3 7/8 in.; sheet: 13 ½ x 10 in. Courtesy of the artist.

J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851) and Charles Turner (British, 1774–1857). Norham Castle on the Tweed (Liber Studiorum, part XII, plate 57), 1816. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 7 x 10 5/16 in. (17.8 x 26.2 cm.); sheet: 8 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (21 x 29.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Frank Short (British, 1857–1945), after J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851). Liber Studiorum—Frontispiece, 1885. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 124 x 185 mm. Tate, London.

EXTRA IMAGES

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Type Face, 2002. Mezzotint. 9 ¼ x 9 ¼ inches. Courtesy of the artist. An example of (perhaps more than any other) anthropomorphizing subjects and the use of modulating, repeating patterns to suggest animation, as well as the humor and humanity I see in manufactured objects.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Sew What, 2022. Mezzotint. 20 x 12 inches. Courtesy of the artist. This was printed from two plates: a black-and-white key plate rocked with an 85-gauge rocker and a color plate ground selectively with roulettes and wiped selectively. These images demonstrate the dialogue between my current work in painting and mezzotint.

[Left] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Pipe Dream, 2003. Mezzotint and engraving. Plate: 2 ½ x 1 ½ in. Courtesy of the artist.

[Right] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Serpentdipity, 2003. Mezzotint. Plate: 2 ½ x 1 ½ in. Courtesy of the artist. These two show burin engraving through a mezzotint ground.

Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Binder Spiral, 2023. Graphite. 127 x 23 in. Courtesy of the artist.

USEFUL LINKS

Carol's website https://www.carolwax.com/

Jennifer Melby's link https://www.jennifermelby.com/

Conrad Graeber's link https://conradgraeber.com/

In s3e51, Platemark host Ann Shafer talks with Chris Santa Maria, artist and gallery director at Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl. As director of the New York gallery, Chris is responsible for showcasing and selling the print output of the storied LA workshop to enable it to keep working with amazing artists and producing incredible editions.

Chris and Ann touch on Gemini's history, the structure of the workshop, how artists get to work there, and Julie Mehretu, Julie Mehretu, and Julie Mehretu. They also talk about Chris' side hustle as an artist and his intricate paper collages.

Josef Albers. White Line Square IV, 1966. 53.3 x 53.3 cm (21 x 21 in.). 2011. The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; ©Gemini G.E.L. and the Artist.

Chris Santa Maria wrangling prints at Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl, New York.

Sidney Felsen, co-founder of Gemini G.E.L. Photo by Alex Berliner.

Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl, 535 West 24th Street, third floor, New York. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Chris Santa Maria hanging Julie Mehretu's print at Art Basel Miami, 2019.

Julie Mehretu's etching installed at the New York gallery, June 8–August 24, 2023. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Julie Mehretu at work at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Julie Mehretu at work at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Analia Saban working at Gemini workshop. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Robert Rauschenberg working on the limestone for Waves from the Stoned Moon series with Stanley Grinstein in the background. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen, 1969. From the collection of Getty Research Institute.

Jasper Johns deleting imagery from a lithography plate for Cicada, November 1981. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California, 2001.

Richard Serra at work on his etchings and Paintstik compositions, November 1990. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California, 2001.

Ellsworth Kelly (left) and NGA curator Mark Rosenthal at Gemini; Ellsworth canceling a print from the Portrait Series, February 1990. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California, 2001.

Works by Richard Serra and Julie Mehretu at the IFPDA Print Fair, October 2023. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Joni Weyl and Sidney Felsen at the 2019 IFPDA Print Fair, New York.

Tacita Dean at work at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Roy Lichtenstein at work at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Julie Mehretu at Gemini G.E.L.'s booth at the IFPDA Print Fair, October 2023.

Tacita Dean. LA Magic Hour 1, 2021. Hand-drawn, multi-color blend lithograph. 29 7/8 x 29 7/8 in. (75.88 x 75.88 cm). ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Chris Santa Maria. Field 31, 2023. Paper college on 4-ply ragboard. 10 x 10 in.

Chris Santa Maria's studio.

Chris Santa Maria's studio.

Chris Santa Maria. President Trump, 2020. Paper collage. 72 x 72 in.

Chris Santa Maria. No. 5, 2014. Paper collage on MDF. 58 x 60 in. in the window of Jim Kempner Fine Art, New York.

Ellsworth Kelly. The River (state), 2003 and River II, 2005. Lithographs. Installed during the exhibition Ellsworth Kelly: The Rivers, October 25–December 8, 2007 at Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl, New York.

Julie Mehretu's etchings installed at the New York gallery, June 8–August 24, 2023. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Bruce Nauman in the curating room canceling a copperplate by drawing a sharp tool across it to destroy the image with assistance from William Padien, 1983. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California, 2001.

Julie Mehretu at work at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Works by Ann Hamilton and Tacita Dean in the exhibition at the New York gallery, Selected Works by Gemini Artists. January 2–February 24, 2024. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California.

Daniel Buren at Gemini workshop, August 1988. Photograph by Sidney B. Felsen. ©Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California, 2001.

USEFUL LINKS

Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl. | (joniweyl.com)

Gemini G.E.L. Graphic Editions Limited (geminigel.com)

Chris Santa Maria

Instagram accounts

@chrisantamaria

@geminigel

@joniweyl

In s3e50, Platemark host Ann Shafer talks with Allison Tolman, a private dealer handling prints by contemporary Japanese artists. The Tolman Collection has branches in Tokyo and New York and works with a range of artists. Allison is a second-generation dealer—her father heads up the Tokyo branch while Allison is holding down the fort in New York. She enjoys personal relationships with her artists and is a tireless promoter of prints from the other side of the world.

Ann and Allison talk about cultural differences relating to aesthetics, manner of working, and business dealings. They also talk about managing a business without a bricks-and-mortar space and their love of this admittedly tiny corner of the art world.

SHINODA Toko (Japanese, 1913–2021). Awakening, 2017. Original painting. 24 3/4 x 40 1/2 in. The Tolman Collection of New York.

YAMAMOTO Kanae (Japanese, 1882–1946). Fisherman, 1904. Woodcut. 12 3/8 x 10 11/16 in. Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland.

HOKUSAI Katsushika (Japanese, 1760–1849). Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, c. 1830–32. Woodblock print. 10 x 15 in. (25.4 x 38.1 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

KAWAMURA Sayaka (Japanese, born 1990). I Dream of Floating, 2021. 27 5/8 x 27 5/8 in. The Tolman Collection of New York.

YOSHIDA Hadaka (Japanese, 1926–1995). Night (drops), 1954. Woodblock print. 16 x 10 7/8 in. (40.5 x 27.5 cm.). Scholten Japanese Art, New York.

KURODA Shigeki (Japanese, born 1953). Yellow Flow. Etching. 7 x 11 in. Gilbert Luber Gallery, Philadelphia.

KAWACHI Seiko (Japanese, born 1948). The Flying (Metropolitan Government-I), from the series One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century, 1989–99. Color woodblock print. 27 x 20 in. (68 x 50 cm.). Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

TAKAHASHI Hiromitsu (Japanese, born 1959). Blizzard of Blossoms, 2013. Stencil print. The Tolman Collection, Tokyo.

USEFUL LINKS

Artists | The Tolman Collection of New York

Japanese Woodblock Print Search - Ukiyo-e Search

What is an Original Print? | Print Council of America

Lucas Martineau. Takahashi Hiromitsu: The "DyEing" Art of Kappazuri, 2020.

Takahashi Hiromitsu "DyEing" Art of Kappazuri Lucas Martineau | Tolman Collection of Tokyo (tolmantokyo.com)