Printmaking Center of New Jersey
  • Home
Non-Toxic and Sustainable Printmaking Practices
Picture
The Printmaking Center of New Jersey is a workshop, gallery, educational facility and research center dedicated to the safest and most sustainable printmaking practices available. We offer workshops and private instruction in safer and non-toxic approaches to intaglio, photopolymer, lithography, silkscreen, relief and monotype printmaking. We are focused on studying and developing better studio practices which better protect the artist, environment and community. We share this information through our workshops, artist consultations and one-on-one contract printing sessions.


Printmaking is an evolving field and we constantly strive
​to make our studio safer and 
more sustainable.
At PCNJ we strive to create sustainability in many ways, including:
  • Using water-miscible inks that clean up with soap and water (Akua, Caligo, Speedball, Charbonnel, Blick)
  • Using Saline Sulfate and Ferric Chloride salts instead of harsh etching acids
  • Using BIG ground and citrus-based & odorless cleaners to minimize use of leads, tars and heavy solvents (we use Gamsol, Isopropyl Alcohol and Simple Green as opposed to Lacquer thinner, Acetone or Mineral Spirits)
  • Using photo-sensitive polymer plates for intaglio in addition to salt-etching metals
  • Recycling all paper, plastic, metal and glass (including reusing all 'bad prints' for papermaking)
  • Using bath towels for blotters and reusable rags instead of paper towels- to be washed/used repeatedly instead of tossed
  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs in our fixtures
  • Doing all we can to create a sustainable working environment​
Picture
Picture
PCNJ is forward-thinking in sustainable research,
​along with many other non-toxic printshops and suppliers
Printshops
  • Zea Mays, Florence, MA, creator of Substratum.org
  • Printmakers Open Forum, Oxford, PA
  • Zygote Press, Cleveland, OH
  • Ron Pokrasso, Santa Fe, NM
  • Making Art Safely, Santa Fe, NM
  • Women's Studio Workshop, Rosendale, NY
  • New Directions in Printmaking, website
  • Non-toxic Print, website
  • Printmaking Non-Toxic International, Facebook Group
  • Tiger Lily Press, Cincinnati, OH
  • Trefeglwys Print Studio, Wales

Suppliers/Brands
  • Blick Art Materials
  • McClain's
  • Takach Press
  •  Renaissance Graphic Arts
  • Jerry's Artarama
  • Hampton Editions (Solarplate- also sold by Blick)
  • Toyobo Printight Plates (Sold by Takach)
  • BIG ground (sold by Takach)
  • Pronto Plates/Smart Plates (sold by Takach, Blick, Renaissance Graphic Arts, etc)
  • Caligo Safe Wash Ink (sold by Takach, Blick, McClains, Renaissance, etc)
  • Speedball Art (Akua Ink) (sold by Jerry's, Blick, McClains, Takach, Renaissance, etc)
  • Gamblin Artist Colors (ink) and Gamsol (also sold by Blick, McClains, Renaissance, Jerry's, etc)
  • Charbonnel Aqua Wash (sold by Blick, Renaissance, Jerry's, etc)
  • SoySolv II (sold by Jerry's, Takach, Renaissance)
  • Golden (sold by Jerry's, Blick)
  • D&S BioLaq, RollerWash by CS Pogue Graphics (sold by Renaissance)
Picture
Frontline Arts  | 440 River Rd Branchburg NJ 08876 | 908.725.2110