Oil Printing Alternative Photography Process

Oil Printing Alternative Photography Process

Nov 1st and 2nd

Sat & Sun 1:00-5:00

$225 include all supplies

Instructor:  Mac Cosgrove-Davies

In-Studio Class *This class requires large format negatives. Students may send digital images to be converted to negatives - images must be sent 2 weeks prior to class.  

Description

Oil printing is an ‘alternative’ photographic process using lithographic ink to produce an image.   Considerable artistic control is possible as the practitioner can add, subtract, or modify details to create powerful, expressive images. This method starts with a large format photo negative but the process gives more similar artistic controls to the image that can be achieved in lithography and painting.

Oil printing starts with a large photographic negative, which can be digitally printed*.  The negative is set atop a sensitized gelatin-coated paper and exposed under an ultraviolet light.  The paper is then washed to remove the sensitizer and dried.  In areas of the print which received light (i.e. the clear areas of the negative, corresponding to the shadow areas of the original image) the sensitized gelatin will become hardened.  In other areas (i.e. the highlight areas of the original image) hardening does not occur.   When re-wet, the non-hardened areas absorb water while the hardened areas do not.  Thus when an oil-based lithographic ink is applied, it sticks only to the (dry) shadow areas, and is repelled in the (wet) highlight areas, creating the image.  However, as the print dries it will take ink more freely, allowing the practitioner to add and subtract for artistic effect.  Students will have ample opportunity to practice all phases of the process.

 (The class will include 4 images printed at 5x7 size negatives if digital images are sent no later then 2 weeks before the class starts. Additional sets of 4 5x7 images can be purchased to use during the class for $30 please contact us for more information on additional images.)

NOTE: 

We set our pricing to pay our instructors a fair wage and cover materials, but one of FBAC’s goals is to give access to the experience of all things bookbinding and printing to anyone who is interested. If you or someone you know would like to participate in a class but do not have the funding please reach out to contact@frederickbookarts.org and we will do what we can so no one has to miss out on the experiences we offer.