printmaking
Printmaking is the process of creating art by printing pictures, usually on paper. This art form allows an artist to make several copies of the same image from an original plate or block.
Examples
3 of 5I am taking a printmaking class at the community center.
I am taking a printmaking class at the community center.
The museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to the history of European printmaking.
The museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to the history of European printmaking.
Wanna come over and try some printmaking this weekend?
Wanna come over and try some printmaking this weekend?
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'print' + 'making.' You are making art specifically by printing it over and over.
Quick Quiz
The artist used a wood block for her ______ project.
Correct!
The correct answer is: printmaking
Examples
I am taking a printmaking class at the community center.
everydayI am taking a printmaking class at the community center.
The museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to the history of European printmaking.
formalThe museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to the history of European printmaking.
Wanna come over and try some printmaking this weekend?
informalWanna come over and try some printmaking this weekend?
Printmaking played a vital role in the mass distribution of information during the Renaissance.
academicPrintmaking played a vital role in the mass distribution of information during the Renaissance.
The company specializes in artisanal printmaking for luxury stationery.
businessThe company specializes in artisanal printmaking for luxury stationery.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
relief printmaking
relief printmaking
screen printmaking
screen printmaking
intaglio printmaking
intaglio printmaking
Often Confused With
Printing usually refers to the industrial copying of text/documents, while printmaking is an artistic process.
A print is the final piece of paper or artwork, whereas printmaking is the process of making it.
Usage Notes
Use 'printmaking' to describe the general art category or the technical process. It is an uncountable noun when referring to the activity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'a printmaking' to mean one artwork, but they should say 'a print' or 'a piece of printmaking.'
Memory Tip
Think of 'print' + 'making.' You are making art specifically by printing it over and over.
Word Origin
Derived from the Middle English 'printen' (to press) combined with the suffix '-making' to denote a craft.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Printmaking has a major cultural history in Japan (Ukiyo-e) and Germany, where it helped spread art to common people.
Quick Quiz
The artist used a wood block for her ______ project.
Correct!
The correct answer is: printmaking
Related Vocabulary
More art words
painting
A1A painting is a picture that someone makes using paint. It is usually created on a surface like paper or canvas and is considered a piece of art.
sculpture
A1A sculpture is a three-dimensional piece of art made by shaping or carving materials like stone, wood, metal, or clay. Unlike a painting, you can walk around a sculpture and see it from many different angles.
sketch
A1A simple drawing that is done quickly and without many details. It is often used as a rough draft or a plan for a more finished piece of art.
portrait
A1A portrait is a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focusing on the face and shoulders. It is created to show what the person looks like and often to express their personality.
still life
A1A still life is a type of art, such as a painting or photograph, that shows objects that do not move. Common subjects include everyday items like fruit, flowers, bottles, or bowls.
cubism
A1Cubism is a style of modern art that shows objects and people as simple geometric shapes like cubes, triangles, and circles. Instead of looking realistic from one side, the art shows the subject from many different angles at the same time.
surrealism
A1Surrealism is a style of art and literature that mixes real objects in strange or impossible ways, like in a dream. It aims to show the power of the imagination and the hidden thoughts of the mind.
contemporary art
A1Contemporary art is art produced at the present period in time. It includes works made by artists living today and reflects the issues of our modern world.
easel
A1An easel is a wooden or metal frame that stands on three legs. It is used to hold a canvas or a board while an artist is painting or drawing on it.
palette
A1A palette is a flat board or plate that an artist uses to hold and mix their paints. It also describes the specific set of colors used in a painting, design, or brand.
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