Zemni Prints

Tag: inks

  • Schminke water-based inks

    Schminke water-based inks

    Used in:

    Assignment 1: Willows

    Project 2.2: Random Abstract Prints

    Abstract from Frankenthaler
    Abstract from Frankenthaler
    Abstract
    Willows ice moonlight draft
    Willows 1 Dawn monoprint
    Willows 2 The Gloom 2

    Schminke water-based inks are the first inks I ever used. They are artist-quality linoprint inks, made with high-quality organic and inorganic pigments on a gum arabic base. They have good lightfastness (at least 4-5 stars). They dry within 15 minutes to be wipe-proof but not waterproof and can be overprinted if necessary. There are 15 colours and 3 effect colours.

    They can be used for:

    • linocut: the fast-drying time means they can be quickly overprinted and give a sharp line
    • monoprint: being water-based, they are also diluted with water which can produce very beautiful water-colour effects on monoprint. They can also be laid onto softfoam and keep their texture well when used with a palette-knife.
  • Inks

    Inks

    A key focus in my printmaking is experimentation with different inks:

    • the range of different effects that can be achieved through different mark-making (including dripping, dribbling) and mark-making implements (including fingers, masks and palette knives)
    • how inks react with different mediums like impasto, transparency medium and also water and solvents
    • interactions of different types of ink, both used together to produce blending and viscosity effects and also overlaid
    • the effects of different types of plate like soft-foam, foamboard, cardboard and collagraph textures
    • the effects of paper texture, thickness and dampness
    • effects of different hand printing and pressures of the press

    For ink experimentation with mixed inks see:

    Although I also use oil-based inks, I am particularly interested in pushing the potential of water-based and water-soluble inks because I am allergic to solvents so can only use these in very small amounts. This means I also experiment a lot with inks during the cleaning-up process – rolling onto scrap paper and printing from the inking plate – in order to minimise the ink that needs to be cleaned off rollers and plates. These papers are then used in colllage.

    Water-based inks

    Akua liquid pigment

    used in:

    Abstract in style of Richter
    Abstract in style of Richter
    Abstract in style of Richter
    Clifford Still experiment
    Akua 4 plate

    Schminke water-soluble inks

    used in:

    Abstract from Frankenthaler
    Abstract from Frankenthaler
    Abstract from Frankenthaler
    Willows 3 Moonlight crop
    Willows 2 Dawn crop
    Willows 2 The Gloom crop

    Water-washable oil-based inks

    Akua intaglio

    used in:

    Abstract in style of Richter
    Abstract in style of Richter
    Abstract in style of Richter

    Holbein Duo water-soluble oil paint

    Caligo safewash

    Oil-based inks

    Hawthorne ink

    used in:

    Flesh texture crop

    References and Resources

    Graver, M. (2011). Non-toxic printmaking. London, A&C Black.
    Hoskins, S. (2004). Inks. London, A&C Black.

    ink comparison chart