Printmaking Supplies for Schools
Printmaking Supplies for Schools That Open Up a Whole New World of Art
Printmaking is one of those art forms that genuinely surprises students. The moment they lift that first print and see the image revealed beneath, something clicks. It's tactile, it's process-driven, and it produces results that feel exciting and a little bit unexpected every single time. For Australian schools looking to bring this discipline into the classroom, Oxlades is the supplier you can count on.
Built for the Classroom, Designed for Results
Our printmaking range is thoughtfully stocked to support a wide variety of techniques and skill levels. Whether your students are just discovering the basics or your senior art program is pushing into more complex territory, there's something here for every stage of the journey.
Lino printing supplies make a brilliant starting point, accessible, satisfying and endlessly creative. From there, schools can explore further with etching plates that introduce students to the rich tradition of intaglio printmaking, and silkscreens that open the door to bold, graphic and highly versatile print work. Quality inks in a range of formulations bring colour and definition to every technique, and for schools ready to take printmaking seriously, presses that deliver consistent, professional results complete the picture. There's plenty more across the collection too, giving teachers the flexibility to build a printmaking program that's truly their own.
One Supplier. Every Technique. Australia-Wide.
Sourcing specialist printmaking supplies can be a challenge, particularly for schools outside major cities. Oxlades makes it straightforward, delivering quality products to schools right across Australia with the reliability and range that busy educators need.
New to Oxlades? Apply for a school account to access pricing and streamline your printmaking supply orders. Already with us? Log in and keep creating.
FAQ's
What is Printmaking?
Printmaking is a captivating artistic process where an image is meticulously etched, carved, or drawn onto a flat surface such as a plate or block. The intricately prepared surface is then carefully inked, and a sheet of paper is pressed onto it. This meticulous union of ink and surface transfers the artist's vision onto paper, resulting in a distinctive, original print. Each print bears the artist's mark, capturing the essence of their creativity. This method allows for the creation of multiples while maintaining the uniqueness of each piece, making printmaking a fascinating and versatile avenue for artistic expression and exploration.
As a timeless art form, Printmaking holds a unique place in the artistic realm. It allows creators to translate their visions onto various surfaces, making it an indispensable medium for artists seeking to express themselves in a distinctive way.
What tools do you use for printmaking?
Printmaking draws on a wonderfully varied toolkit depending on the technique. For lino printing, carving tools with different shaped blades are used to cut designs into the lino block before ink is applied and the print is pressed onto paper. Screen printing relies on silkscreens, squeegees and specialist inks to push colour through a mesh onto the chosen surface. Etching work calls for needles and dry point tools to scratch designs into plates. Across all techniques, rollers (also called brayers) are a staple for applying ink evenly, and a press is often used to achieve a clean, consistent print. Oxlades stocks a broad range of printmaking tools to support all of these methods in the classroom.
What is an etching tool called?
The most common etching tool is called a dry point needle, sometimes simply referred to as an etching needle. It's a sharp, pointed instrument used to scratch or incise a design directly onto an etching plate, which can be made from metal or plastic. The scratched lines hold the ink, which is then transferred to paper during the printing process. At Oxlades, you'll find etching needles and dry point plates as part of our school printmaking range, making it easy to introduce this classic technique to your students.
