WOW! I wonder how he did that?

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH HOWARD

Non-toxic intaglio printmaking is not what you think it is.

Keith Howard shows what can be done with his Non-Toxic Intaglio Printmaking Techniques.

Many artists/printmakers believe that they know what Non-Toxic Intaglio printmaking is all about. They simply cross-reference what they are familiar with in Toxic Intaglio and assume that all that is involved in Non-Toxic Intaglio is a replacement of toxic grounds, acids and solvents. When the mention is made of the photoploymer intaglio film they are further quick to believe that this is meant mostly for reproducing photographic imagery. Thus misconceptions and simplistic perceptions abound in the printmaking world as to what Non-Toxic Intaglio Printmaking is all about.

Non-Toxic Intaglio Printmaking has evolved far beyond the traditional technical limitations imposed on this printmaking art form by the toxic tradition. Non-Toxic Intaglio printmaking, as developed by Keith Howard, extends the traditional technical and time-oriented boundaries imposed by toxic printmaking. It is in essence an almost entirely new printmaking art form, allowing a kind of spontaneity and direct marking process more akin to painting and drawing. There is a new dynamic and wonderful array of mark-making possibility that maintains the integrity of the intaglio print while offering a new printmaking vision. Uninitiated printmakers stare in wonderment as to how such marks and prints were made. There are murmurs of "it looks like lithography" or "how can he get such textural effects without etching the plate?" or many printmakers/artists simply shake their heads and say "Wow, I wonder how he did that".

June 23, 2002
updated June 9, 2005