Finger-Touch-Printing
The reason I'm using this technique is it's simplicity,
the freshness of strong contrasts and the
beauty of many details that come uncontrolled as a gift.
Some areas where the paper actually prints itself by its own weight
keep changing from print to print. No print of the same edition is identical.
This technique is closely related to the traditional methods
of Japanese, Chinese and other Asian printers who
exercise - differently than this method - full control of every detail.
Finger-Touch-Printing is one of the most basic forms of
printing without the assistance of any pressure applying devices,
similar to the ancient method of stone rubbings.
It has the full potential of producing spontaneously
naturally appearing patterns which can
only be controlled minimally in their density.
To produce the print block I'm using different qualities
of wood and wood related materials,
carving the design into the wood with a choice of
steel cutters and drills.
The inks applied to the print block may be oil or water based.
Oil/pigment based inks, when entering the wood
surface, don't raise the surface like water based inks unless the block has been sealed.
Oil based printing results in a smoother print surface.
The print, after having dried thoroughly, will then
be signed and/or signature stamped by the artist, a title
added (if desired) and numbered (print#/edition of...
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©Piet Leutsch