Allen W. Madeira. Artist

Allen grew up in the small town of Hamburg, Pennsylvania and he still lives nearby. While in High school, Allen developed a strong background in technical drawing. In fact, after 8th grade, rather than art class, Allen signed up each year for Mechanical Drawing classes. In the days before computer aided design (CAD) hand drafting was an important skill. It was also something boys did. Although interested in art Allen believed it when he was told that there was no future in art. He had to figure out a way to make a living so after graduating in 1983 he went on to earn an Associate Degree in Visual Communication from the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

After working in advertising and layout at the local newspaper, the Hamburg Item, as well as numerous other odd jobs, Allen found himself employed by a small publishing company as a technical illustrator. Unfortunately, within a year or so, the company began to dissolve and the owner passed away. Still seeing himself primarily as a draftsman, Allen applied for a position as such with a small civil engineering company. This detour led to a twenty year career in municipal code enforcement and consulting. Allen still pursued his interests in art on the side and even shared studio space with another artist.

In 2006, Allen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. At present, Allen is pursuing a career as a fine artist specializing in drawing, painting and printmaking. Allen is Chairman of the Hamburg Area Art Alliance, where he also teaches various art classes.

What is Collagraph?

From the Greek: colla meaning "glue" and graphos meaning "to write". The process is an additive or constructive process where the image is literally built up on a base plate of illustration board or Masonite. One could use a great variety of materials such as string, ferns, leaves, paper, and lace, or almost anything that will create a low relief on the surface of the plate. Once the plate is prepared, it is positioned on the press bed, either with or without first applying oil based ink. Heavy paper is softened by soaking briefly in water, blotted and placed on the plate. Press blankets or “felts” are used to absorb any excess water, to provide a cushion for the paper and for friction with the press roller which drives the press bed. As the press bed moves through the rollers under great pressure, the softened paper stretches in and around the textured surface of the plate. This is called “embossing”.

An embossed paper with no ink or a monochromatic print can be, and often are, a finished piece of artwork. Inking is a time consuming and laborious process yielding vastly different results depending on the type of ink and how it is applied. It is also possible to print in multiple colors at once, or to print multiple plates in different colors to form a single image. Finally, to further personalize some of my works, I like to hand color certain images or add elements such as Gold Leaf. Therefore, each print is not a reproduction, but an individual, original piece of artwork.

Collagraph/Monoprint: Gothic Rose

Collagraph: Gothic Rose

Collagraph/Monoprint: WNWESE

Guilded Collagraph: WNWESE

Hand Colored Coloagraph: WNWESE

What is Intaglio?

Intaglio is from the Italian and means "to engrave" or "to cut into". The image is produced by pressing paper into grooves or recesses in a metal plate containing ink. Intaglio is a subtractive process where material is removed or cut into. The image may be etched into the plate with acid, engraved, or simply scored onto the surface. Techniques include: etching, mezzotint, aquatint, engraving, and drypoint.

Intaglio is an ancient and revered art form that has been practiced for centuries across Europe and parts of Asia. Many of the great masters, including Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, William Blake, and numerous others produced works in this medium.

Once the plate has been prepared using one or more of the above techniques, oil based printers' ink is applied and then removed leaving ink only in the grooves and the recesses of the plate. The plate is then placed on the press bed. Printing or water color paper is softened by soaking briefly in water, blotted, and placed on top of the plate. Press blankets or "felts" are then placed on top of the paper to provide a cushion and traction for the drive roller. As the press bed moves through the rollers under great pressure, the softened paper is pressed into the grooves and recesses of the plate and receives the ink.

A monochromatic print can be, and often is, a finished piece of artwork. Inking is a time consuming and laborious process yielding vastly different results depending on the type of ink and how it is applied. It is also possible to print in multiple colors at once, or to print multiple plates in different colors to form a single image. Finally, to further personalize some of my works, I like to hand color certain images or add elements such as Gold Leaf. Therefore, each print is not a reproduction, but an individual, original piece of artwork.

Etching: Savannah Stairs

Drawings

Pen and Ink: Reading 2102 - High Bridge

Pen and Ink: Pennsy 136

Pen and Ink: Baldwin No. 2

Scrimshaw on Mylar: Armor