The Instant Printmaker: Simple Printing Methods to Try atHome (Watson-Guptill Famous Artists) [Paperback]

Melvyn Petterson (Author), Colin Gale (Author)

Book Description

Series: Watson-Guptill Famous Artists | Publication Date: November 1, 2003

Beginning and experienced artists alike will find practical, immediately applicable techniques in this inventive guide to home printmaking.



Printmaking is traditionally thought of as a cumbersome and costly endeavor, requiring presses, drying racks, and even acid baths. But now, in The Instant Printmaker, author and artist Melvyn Petterson reveals his tried-and-true techniques and simple and affordable materials that enable everyone with an interest in printmaking to create professional, exhibition-quality prints right in their own home. A straightforward, fun, and informative guide for artists and crafters everywhere!



Also available:

• Printmaking in the Sun
0-8230-4292-8 • 29.95 dollars

• Printmaking for Beginners
0-8230-4293-6 • 19.95 dollars

• Monotype
0-8230-3128-4 • 19.95 dollars

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author and accomplished printmaker Melvyn Petterson has exhibited extensively in the US, Europe, and China, and was elected a full member of the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers, and Engravers. He lives in London. Colin Gale lectures on printmaking at several London colleges. His work is exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, and in private collections worldwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823025268
• ISBN-13: 978-0823025268
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sure wish I had a printing press in my home..., March 14, 2005

By 

lucidbooks (NEW YORK, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Instant Printmaker: Simple Printing Methods to Try atHome (Watson-Guptill Famous Artists) (Paperback)

but I don't. No intaglio press. No letter press. Heck, I don't even have an old washing machine mangle to 'make-do' as a press, which was an authors' recommendation. This book is fine (as far as it goes) into prints you really can make at home i.e. by hand rubbing, but almost all of the chapters include projects that require a press. I was hoping for some innovative ways to do, say, etchings AT HOME and not have to drag my stuff to an art school and pay for press time. If you're so far along as to have invested in a real press in your own home studio, you already know everything that's in this book. If you want a book that's half what it purports to be, you might get a few ideas. Nothing is a total waste -- you might glean something from it that will improve your technique or broaden your experimentation, but don't count on it for prints you can really make AT HOME besides the usual monoprints and reliefs.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making Plates at Home, January 3, 2006

By 

Art Doctor "Deborah" (Mancos, CO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Instant Printmaker: Simple Printing Methods to Try atHome (Watson-Guptill Famous Artists) (Paperback)

Many people are interested in printmaking but are limited by their access to studios and equipment. This book does not attempt to tell you how to print without a press, however it tells you which presses work best for each project. There are some suggestions on some presses that you may be able to find or make if you want to print at home, but that is not the author's emphasis. What the author does best is demonstrate some good processes that will help you prepare plates at home. For those who are interested in investigating screen printing, there is also a section on that.

I think this is a great book for someone to include in their printmaking book collection. It does not solve everyone's issues (how many books do?), but it would be great for someone taking a printmaking class who needs the privacy and comfort of their own home when learning to prepare plates. A few of the suggestions are innovative and fun, and will give you a jump start if you are in an artistic slump.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their platemaking practices into new directions, but primarily to the student who isn't totally comfortable making plates in a distracting or crowded studio setting.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great ideas., May 25, 2009

By 

Mrs. R. M. Anderson "razzle_dazzle" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Instant Printmaker: Simple Printing Methods to Try atHome (Watson-Guptill Famous Artists) (Paperback)

An excellent book for anyone starting out with printmaking.
The step by step instructions are very easy to follow and the different techniques give fantastic results, even from the start!