Printmaking

ARTD44A Introduction to Lithography

Mt. SAC Printmaking�ARTD44 Lithography

About ARTD 44A

Mt. SAC’s ARTD 44A Lithography introduces one of the four major printmaking processes- where drawings made on limestone, aluminum, or polyester plates are chemically processed, inked, and printed on paper using a printing press.

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Projects begin with single-color prints and build toward layered, multi-color works using a variety of drawing materials and plate surfaces.

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Learn more:

• Mt. SAC Printmaking Page – Click Here
• Contact: Jennifer Chen jchen21@mtsac.edu

Mt. SAC Printmaking�ARTD44 Lithography

Course Goals:

• Explore traditional and contemporary lithographic methods.
• Understand tools, materials, and studio processes.
• Build technical skills to develop your personal artistic voice.

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No Prerequisites Required

• CSU and UC transferable

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Lithography : “Drawing on stone”

Etymology of “lithography”

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The word comes from Greek roots:

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• lithos = “stone”
• Graphē/graphein = “to write” or “to draw”

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Literally meaning ”drawing on stone”

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Printed image Traditional limestone plate

What is Lithography?

Lithography a planographic type of printmaking where images are printed from a single plane

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Materials:

Limestone, aluminum, and polyester plates

• Stone lithography

The 4 basic types of printmaking

The 4 basic types of printmaking

The name refers to the how the image transfers to paper.

What is Printmaking?

Printmaking is an artistic process for creating multiple original works from a single image or matrix.

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Four Major Print Processes:

• Relief – carved surface (woodcut, linocut)
• Intaglio- etched or engraved plates
• Lithography – drawing/painting with grease on stone or plate
• Screenprinting – stencils pulled through mesh screens

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Printmaking allows artists to edition works, experiment with layers, and explore unique mark-making.

The Power of Multiples

The strength of printmaking lies in its ability to produce more than one original

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• Accessibility - more people can see, own, and live with the artwork.
• Affordability - prints are more attainable than unique drawings and paintings.

Left: Work in progress for an edition of monoprints

Center: Joseph Poehlman, self-portrait of as a carpenter (Screenprint)

Right: Ruben Ortiz (Lithograph)

What is Lithography?

• Lithography is a printmaking process where you draw directly onto a flat stone or metal plate. The plate is inked and the design is printed onto paper through a printing press.

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• The image transfers because of the simple rule that oil and water repel.

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• Print process resembling drawing. Capturing texture, shading, handwriting, and expressive marks as a direct translation into print.

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Artists

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Jane Avril, 1893

Color Lithograph

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Artists

Alphonse Mucha

Job (rolling papers), 1896

Color Lithograph

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Artists

Honoré Daumier

Rue Transnonain, 15 de Avril, 1834

Lithograph

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Artists

Käthe Kollwitz

1910

Lithograph

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Artists

Charles White

I Have A Dream, 1976

Lithograph

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Artists

Diego Rivera

Zapata, 1932

Lithograph

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ARTD44 Projects

Projects progress from single-color prints to layered, multi-color works using diverse materials and drawing surfaces.

• 1-color print
• 2-color print
• Multiple color

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• Polyester plate
• Aluminum plate
• Limestone

ARTD44 Intro to Lithography

Student prints

(Single color)

ARTD44 Intro to Lithography

Student prints

(Two-color)

ARTD44 Intro to Lithography

Student prints

(Multiple color)

ARTD44 Intro to Lithography

Student prints

(Multiple color)

ARTD44 Intro to Lithography

Enroll for Spring 2026

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CRN: 40411

Time: MW 3-6:20pm

Location: Building 1A-1

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Learn more:

• Mt. SAC Printmaking Page – Click Here
• Instagram: @mtsac_printmakingheadquarters
• Contact: Jennifer Chen jchen21@mtsac.edu