WHAT IS COLLABORATION?

None of these prints are copies of original paintings or photographs, but are instead original images. The image printed exists nowhere else, and all of the prints within the edition are identical. These hand-printed original lithographs are created as a collaboration between the artist (who focuses on the image-making) and the printer (who focuses on the technical execution).

A collaboration consists of Middleton preparing materials for a artist to work on while explaining the opportunities lithography can provide a given artist and their body of work. The artist then makes marks on the prepared plates or stone, which Middleton will then etch and prepare for printing. The plates and/or stone will be edition on a previously discussed amount of paper. The subsequent prints are then curated into a final edition, which is then signed by the artist and embossed with a printer’s chop.

What is Lithography?

Lithography is a printmaking process where an artist draws onto a flat limestone or aluminum plate with greasy crayons or ink. The printer then chemically processes the oil drawing making the image area fixed. This processing also makes the drawing accepting of oil-based ink and makes the blank area of the plate or stone repel the ink. The printmaking ink is applied with a roller to the plate or stone repeatedly. Then paper is placed on the plate or stone and is put through the press, where the image is transferred to the paper. This method of inking the plate or stone is repeated for as many prints as the printer desires.