Collograph

Collograph is an intaglio and relief process in which a plate is constructed by building up textured materials onto a rigid surface. The artist adheres substances such as card, fabric, sand, or acrylic mediums to form a relief or textured matrix capable of holding ink.

Once sealed and dried, the plate can be inked in different ways—either rolled across the raised areas or worked into recessed textures. The surface is then wiped and printed under pressure, transferring both the relief and intaglio elements to paper.

Because the plate is constructed rather than carved, collograph encourages experimentation with surface and material. Each impression captures the physical texture embedded in the matrix, often resulting in richly varied tonal and structural effects.

Collograph is recognised for its tactile depth and material complexity. The process bridges painting, collage, and printmaking, producing works that emphasise texture, layering, and the expressive potential of constructed surfaces.