The Printmaker's Library is a place for anything a printmaker would need to know to get started in learning printmaking, building a studio, interacting with the community, and beginning a lifelong, sustainable arts practice. In addition, it is a place for my content guides and an aggregate of resources from around the web - you should be able to find all the info you need in one place. Ideally, you shouldn't need a degree to love and learn printmaking or be an artist.
The library is a collaborative project. Send me your resources!
Magazines, equipment sellers, favourite tutorials and anything else you find helpful.
The Library was started in 2021 by Head Librarian, Kaitlyn Hollander
The central questions I am building this site around are:
"If I knew nothing about how to do fine art printmaking, what do I need to know?"
"If nothing about the printmaking community, where are they and what's going on right now?"
"Without an undergraduate degree, how could I access printmaking?"
"As a young artist, what do I need to know and do to start selling my work?"
Guides on Home Printmaking
- How to make/ buy equipment, inks, print safety, etc.
Directories for the following:
- Specialty Printmaker Supply Stores (worldwide)
- Printmaking Magazines/ News/ Other
- Printmaking Facebook Groups
Guides on General Artist Development
- How to build a website, money management, etc.
Links to other's guides will always be free. I will never take money or accreditation for others' work. The Printmaker's Library is a site for original content and vetted aggregate resources. The majority of the site will remain free. Some articles may be behind paywalls. The "How to Build a Cheap Portfolio" article is free because it is vital information for artists. The extension of it, "How to Build a Cheap Online Web Store," is not because you need to invest money to make money if you are making a store. Resources that are monetized behind a paywall will be placed at a fair, accessible price. If you truly can't afford it, send an email to printmakerslibrary@gmail.com noting which article you need. As of May 16, there are no paywall articles on the site.
Resident Librarian Kaitlyn Hollander here.
Do you know the one thing is that baffles me about art? It's a public asset that's free but is highly unavailable. Ever try to get into an artist development zoom class last minute? Or sign up for networking at a print conference weeks before to find it full?
I learned printmaking in undergrad and fell in love with it. Printmaking has such a wonderful community (and, it's an artform that isn't painting). But my community wasn't big since my school was isolated - I graduated with few connections, loneliness, and no idea what to do next.
Printmaking has such a wonderful community, but without the university experience, it can be challenging to learn:
1. what kinds of printmaking mediums are out there,
2. how to do them, and
3. where the community is.
The other way to find community is through a shared print studio membership. At $1000 for a year, it was a hard step to take (though reasonably priced). However, when I connected with printmakers (no matter where they were from), they were more than happy to impart their knowledge to me and guide me in the right direction. The spirit of giving is there. So, I'm hoping to give back and make the next student's journey a little bit easier. Printmaking does have online resources out there, but they're scattered. I've learned a lot too, so why not organize and share it?
If you're using the library and finding it helpful, please support it on Patreon.
Your donation gives me the time and resources to add content and upkeep the site.
The Printmaker's Library is a collection of resources I've found beneficial on my journey and a place to share my knowledge with you. I'm hoping that by doing so, I can save you the time and the headache.
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn Hollander
Head Librarian