What's The Alternative?

Choosing sustainable and ethical materials can be a dilemma for any artist. More than any other art form printmaking has had the biggest shake up in the last 20 years thanks to the move to safer working practices.

Anna Johnson, Printmaker and Creative Director of Green Door Open Access Printmaking Studio in Derby says: "As far as I know we are the only open access printmaking studio in the country which completely eschews hazardous materials and uses the new etching methods. Of course, there is also Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop which is the model for Green Door."

Worryingly, despite the shift towards non-hazardous working methods, traditional practices are very much still in operation in many workshops in the UK. Anna continues: "I think there is resistance to change where artists get results they like without thinking about possible hazards to health or the environment. In studios where solvents are used the air is thick with the smell. I've heard some artists say that they love it, I know of etchers who will put their hands into nitric acid to test the mordant! Of course, I also know about printmakers who have become very ill, using traditional materials."

Anna is also quick to reject the term 'non-toxic' as inaccurate and agrees with her mentor Alfons Bytautas at the Edinburgh Printmaker workshop: "At EP we've eschewed the terms 'Non-Toxic' Printmaking or (worse still!) 'Safe Etching'. These terms are misleading. Although a few of the materials we use are certified 'non-toxic', the majority are still potentially harmful if misused."

There are alternatives, some of which are readily available. Cooking oil, for instance, is a great substitute for solvents for cleaning. Anna is currently trialling Caligo Safe Wash Inks for etching and relief. "These are water soluble but handle like oil-based inks and really do print well. I'm an etcher who has always preferred oil-based inks, but the Safe Wash inks are quite remarkable. Also recommended is Hawthorn's Non-skinning inks, which although oil-based are also a good move forward."

Further info:
www.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk
www.edinburgh-printmakers.co.uk
www.intaglioprintmaker.com
www.hawthornprintmaker.co.uk

Related Articles:
Chris Poole discusses photography's impact on the environment.
John Purcell's choice of sustainable paper.
Find out what Michael Harding is doing to make his studio greener.

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