Print Exchange + New Paper Play
I’m taking part in this year’s Print Palooza print exchange PX 2026 – a fun brief titled “Animals with Attitude” = excluding creepy crawlies, slimy slithery things!
Every year I argue (with myself) that I’m too busy to take part in a print exchange. Argh, there’s that “busy” word again. This year — nope! I’m in. And it was the perfect nudge to step back into relief printing, something I realised I’ve really missed.
The exchange rules are simple: create a limited edition of 12 prints responding to the theme, within a specific image and paper size. And this year I’m also playing with a new paper – Canson Edition 250gsm.
The subject was a no-brainer. The number one animal with attitude in my life is Monty, my Studio Cat. He oozes attitude, from the tips of his whiskers to the sharp points of his sharp, scratchy claws. And bossiness! Boy, can he be bossy. Given any opportunity, he will sit on the artwork, chase bookbinding threads and rummage eco-printing ties. But he loves company and loves hanging out in the studio.
For my edition of 12 prints, I printed “Studio helper!”. Feline with serious attitude.
The reference photo is of Monty “helping” me prepare for a workshop, which, as anyone with a cat will know, usually means the opposite. I used a photopolymer plate for this relief print, trying something new rather than my usual linocut. I like using print exchanges as a chance to play and experiment. Creating and printing a relief photopolymer plate was new for me, as was the paper I printed onto – Canson Edition.
As part of the exchange, I was asked to print with Canson Edition 250gsm 100% cotton printmaking paper. I used it for both the exchange print, printed dry and by hand, and for an intaglio print from my ongoing bunya series, printed wet with blind embossing.
It performed beautifully across both processes.
There’s a subtle textural difference on each side of the paper — smooth and not-so-smooth. I printed on the smooth side for the relief print and the textured side for the intaglio. The paper held ink well and took a strong emboss with ease. Even at 250gsm, it was surprisingly manageable for hand-printing relief work.
I like the paper. I’ll be using more of it! I’ll also introduce it into my printmaking workshops for etching, collagraph and embossing. It may be a little too heavy* for workshop hand-printing linocut, but for press-based processes, it’s a lovely option. And the price point is good too.
*I love to hand-print lino, and I generally print onto 250–300gsm paper in my own practice. When I first started running linocut workshops, that’s what I gave students too. I quickly realised it wasn’t the best idea. Hand-printing anything 200gsm or heavier is hard work! In workshops, we now print on paper around 150gsm, which is much easier for students to manage by hand. If I were printing relief work with a press, Canson Edition would be perfect.
