Litho Sustainability / Accessibility Survey

Litho Sustainability / Accessibility Survey
Thank you for taking the time to help guide future resources in fine art lithography. Please note that ALL fields are optional, no fields are required. We respect that your time is precious, you may not be able to fill out every field, or you may not have an opinion you wish to share. You may find it useful to skim the entire survey before starting. You can zip through just entering the clickable fields if you don't have time for any written responses. Fields marked with an exclamation mark are especially helpful, but again, not required.

You are free to respond anonymously or self-identify as you prefer. While a summary of results will be included in a published report for the International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI) and may be referenced by educational / community materials produced by Grey Hand Press your responses will be kept individually private. We are hoping to eventually work toward a shared printmaking resource including a directory of suppliers within or willing to ship to Australia that your responses would help shape. Responding to this survey entails permission for these uses. All responses will be recorded in encrypted storage while in Jotform for data security.

Any questions may be directed to info@greyhandpress.com

To learn more about this research fellowship, administrated by ISSI on behalf of the George Alexander Foundation, visit greyhandpress.com/fellowship
Experience & Community
Where are you based?

AustraliaOther
If willing, please share your state and city.
! - Are you responding as: (all that apply)

a studenta practicing artistan educatoran academic studio/institutiona professional printing studioOther
If willing, please list any shared/public/co-op/private/educational studios you currently or previously access for litho practice:
! - Please indicate your experience in lithography: (all that apply)

No training but interested.No training but I collaborate/contract print with a trained lithographer.I have taken one or more workshops (not as part of a degree program).I have taken one or more classes in a university, TAFE, or similar program.I have apprenticed in litho at an established studio or with a long-term practitioner.I have attended any level of training at the Tamarind Institute.My experience is PRIMARILY self-taught through manuals and other resources.My training has been substantially SUPPLEMENTED by manuals and other resources.I learned partially or wholly through commercial industry before or concurrent with artistic practice (commercial printing services such as bulk offset printing businesses)Other
Elaborate if interested. If willing, please describe where/how you learned litho. What are your primary go-to references? (Tamarind Manual, etc.)

Please indicate your level of technical confidence: (you may select multiple responses if mixed, and only as many as you care to indicate)

	Not aware or have not tried.	Not confident even with assistance.	Capable with oversight.	Independently capable but not expert.	Fully confident, independent.
Stones: Graining
Stones: Etching & processing (Nitric)
Stones: Etching & processing (Alternative)
Basic Drawing (Crayons, etc.)
Tusche
Stones: Advanced (Manière Noir/acid tint, engraving, etc.)
Plates: Advanced (acrylic reversal, etc.)
Lo Shu / Watercolour "Subtractive" Drawing
Toner Washes / Mylar Transfer
Drawing Transfer Paper
Photocopy Transfer
Basic Printing (Black Ink)
Basic Printing (Colour)
Multi-Layer Printing
Chine Collé
Counter-etching for re-work
Gilding or Dusting
Analog Photo Plates (Darkroom)
Direct to plate photo plates from commercial platemakers
Polyester Plates
Mokulito (Wood Litho)
Non- / Low-Tox Cleanup
Waterless Lithography
Press Maintenance
Leather Roller Maintenance
Composition (rubber) Roller Maintenance

! - What do you see as the biggest gaps in litho education currently available, and do you have any recommendations on closing these gaps? Or, what would you most like to learn, and how do you learn best (workshops, videos, manuals, etc.)? If you studied in a university, did you feel that sufficient time was allowed/available for experimentation (and potentially educational failures) or just barely enough time for an assignment?
! - Would you be interested in:

An exhibition showcasing litho practice in Australasia, preferably touringAn online conference discussing litho resourcesAn in-person skill-sharing conferenceTouring workshops by local and visiting printmakers (artistic and technical)A regionally-hosted intensive session by Tamarind educational staff similar to their month-long Summer Workshop
Would you be interested in a regular resource-sharing online meet-up?

NoMonthlyQuarterlyOnce or twice a yearOther
Are you familiar with the general printmaking international Discord server "Printmakers Chat" or another server? (Accessible via http://printmakerschat.com/ )

No, but interestedNo, not interestedYes, but haven't participatedYes, I participateOther
Are you a member of the Print Council of Australia? (Select all that apply)

Not yet but would considerYes - currentlyIn the past but not currentlyI have served as a committee member or officerNot likely to joinOther
Have you been involved in an association or conference overseas? (IMPACT, Southern Graphics Council International, Mid-American Print Council, etc.?) Would you be interested in attending or having your work represented/exhibited at one of these events?
What do you think the regional litho community (or wider printmaking community) needs most, especially if not mentioned so far in this survey?
! - Do you foresee practicing litho indefinitely, or do you foresee any limits that would cause you to stop practicing? (These could be material availability, studio access, toxicity limitations, sustainability concerns, physical ability/RSI, retirement, other mediums taking precedence in your practice, etc.) If you have concluded your practice already, we'd appreciate hearing why.
! - If replying as an institution (especially co-ops, universities, etc.) we are especially interested in whether you foresee reasons litho education or practice would be ended (especially if we or the community could help avert them) or if it has already been suspended (especially if facilities are still in place that could be revived). Please respond if applicable:
Materials
! - Do you get your litho supplies: (check all that apply)

at a brick and mortar store locally?via online orders from Australian suppliers?via online orders from overseas?by the suitcase-ful while traveling overseas?by making your own, such as crayons & tusche or graining your own plates?

! - What would you consider priorities to secure more affordably?

	Low Priority	Neutral	High Priority
Ink (Black)
Ink (Colour)
Ink Modifiers
Drawing Materials: Crayons
Drawing Materials: Tusche
Decent Cellulose Sponges
Paper
Presses
Composition Rollers
Leather Rollers

Elaborate if interested on the two preceding questions, including preferred suppliers or specific products not listed. Also, any roadblocks you would highlight (cost, shipping cost, scarcity).
Please list your most used drawing products (crayon, tusche, etc.) & brands — and/or, what would you like to get or try that isn't readily available?
Starting with a page on the Grey Hand Press website, but potentially moving to a more central printmaking resource, we're hoping to develop a regularly-updating repository of best sources for sundry supplies — even as simple as "who's selling the best size of cellulose sponge for the best price right now." Would you use or contribute tips to this kind of resource?

UseContributeBothNo thanks
! - Would you be interested in a cooperative bulk purchase arranged once or twice a year (potentially with cooperation from existing art supply importers/distributors) to secure more affordable materials (especially drawing materials and inks from mainstream manufacturers such as Charbonnel, Cranfield, Hanco, etc.)?

No needYes, once a yearYes, more oftenOther
! - Are you more interested in:

Improving access to trusted productsTrying new locally-made options
What litho inks do you use?

Fine Art Inks (Sydney)Cranfield (UK)Hanco (US)Charbonnel (FRA)Graphic Chemical (US)Commercial Offset Litho InksOther
Do you use leather rollers?

Yes, for processing and printingYes, for processing onlyYes, but rarely or for niche tasksNo, never owned but would like to acquire one or moreNo, never owned and do not intend toNo, own but stopped using
It's been determined that several of the current black ink options are especially prone to drying into rollers or congealing/matting in the nap, including recent batches of inks normally trusted. (Hanco Crayon, Hanco Roll-Up, circa 2022 Graphic Chemical Shop / Crayon) What inks are you currently using? Have you noticed any problems?
If this was news to you, the current best options are the most recent batches of Graphic Chemical Crayon Black, Charbonnel, or C
! - Do you currently use any form of photolithography?

Analog darkroom plates (Positive)Analog darkroom plates (Negative)CTP (Computer to Plate) in-houseCTP (Computer to Plate) via a commercial plate makerDarkroom techniques on stone (albumen, Posi-Coat)Via photocopy transfer or on polyester platesOther
Please elaborate, especially where you source your photo materials? We are hoping to build a directory of suppliers for related materials and improve their accessibility. If working with darkroom techniques on stone, what methods do you use?
Wrap-up
Thank you indeed for taking the time to respond. Is there any question or prompt you think was missed by this survey, or that you would have handled differently?
If you would like to be contacted regarding your responses, such as expressed interest in exhibitions/conferences/workshops in section one, enter your preferred email below: (entirely optional)
example@example.com
Name (entirely optional)

First NameLast Name
Would you be willing for:

Anonymized responses to be shared with the Print Council of Australia?Anonymized responses to be shared with the Tamarind Institute of Lithography (USA)?Contact information to be shared with Tamarind for upcoming global surveys?
While the fellowship was a good seed to start this reseach and outreach, we are hoping to identify additional partnerships in future.

We fully appreciate how strained everyone's budget likely is, the number of major causes there are we are all trying to donate to — but if you are interested in supporting these projects, please do contact us directly or consider options on our Kofi page: https://ko-fi.com/greyhandpress

Beyond that, thanks again for your time and we look forward to reviewing your responses!
Should be Empty:

Litho Sustainability / Accessibility Survey

Experience & Community

Materials

Wrap-up