The Print Making Process
Each piece begins with a photographic image—whether a landscape, studio composition, or cityscape. Sometimes a single image is used, while other times, multiple images or fragments of one image are combined. My photographic style has evolved over time and continues to shift gradually, driven by experimentation in both the capturing and printing stages. Printing makes or breaks the piece, making it just as vital as the act of photographing itself. Crafting the final piece by hand echoes the days of analogue photography but with a modern twist, bringing printmaking into play to create a unique artwork.
While I enjoy texture, some images shine as straightforward prints on smooth, archival matte, silk, or gloss paper, while others stand out when printed on brushed aluminium. However, much of my work truly comes to life when printed on handmade cotton-based paper. Each sheet of this paper is crafted by hand, with textures that vary from one to the next, giving every creation its own unique character.
I carefully treat the large handmade cotton sheets of paper with emulsions and textures to enhance the final result. This approach ensures that each piece is truly one of a kind, seamlessly blending the image with the chosen materials to create both visual depth and a rich tactile experience.
It takes about three days to build and treat a single sheet of paper, layer by layer, for printing. Once prepared, it is sent to a high-end printer, altered to handle uneven, heavy, and thick paper. The final piece is then printed using archival-grade pigment ink. All the many layers that make up the final piece are acid-free. If needed, the piece is retouched and finally spray-varnished to protect it from the elements before being framed or mounted.