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Home Search Contact Us	InPrint Article Read this article, or see other newsletter articles. February, 2008 A Reprise: Paper Lithography, As Perfected by Martha (Muffy) Oatway Martha Oatway displaying her work during the Paper Lithography demonstration. Last fall, Martha (Muffy) Oatway presented a demonstration of her signature technique to several groups of students at the Anne Arundel Community College printmaking laboratory in Arnold, MD. This is an area that Ms. Oatway has been developing over the last few years, especially since she moved into the area. Her work has been shown in venues around the DC area, with individual successful shows as well as in collections. Work by Martha Oatway. Her signature work often involves using chemical or mathematical formulas or symbols, old photographs or hand-written messages; more recent work has included hand-drawn designs that she has also incorporated into her monoprints. Due to the nature of the technique, she has seldom attempted true multiple editions of her unique combination of images. In the presentation of the technique, Ms. Oatway was careful to emphasize the fact that experience in handling the paper "masters" is essential. As the students who attempted the technique found, very small variations in their wiping techniques, for example, would result in unsatisfactory results. Heavy-weight paper is essential as well (at least 24 pound weight; the thinner copier paper will disintegrate or shred before the process is completed). Very careful evaluation of the viscosity of the inks is similarly essential. All of the areas of her technique demonstration served well to emphasize the fact that this is truly an art process!   Preparation involves mixing burnt plate oil with printing ink: Adjusting the viscosity of the ink.   The final image appears on the paper. When the ink is finally uniformly applied over the entire image, prepared paper can then be placed on the inked "plate" and then the pair of pieces can be run through a press, just as for any intaglio process. While the process appears reasonably simple, application of the technique proved to be a challenge for the students who attempted it. Final efforts, after careful adjustment of techniques, were greeted with delight. Questions on the technique should be directed to Martha Oatway (martha.oatway@comcast.net). Ms. Oatway is an active member of the Washington Printmakers, the Maryland Federation of Art and the Maryland Printmakers. See additional examples of her work at www.washingtonprintmakers.com/artists/oatway.html.
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