Joe Chris Robertson was an experienced printmaker utilizing many traditional techniques. He also had a zeal for life including music, poetry, philosophy and travel. His prints reveal a unique and personal perspective on a wide range of social and political issues as well as provide documentation of his life events.

For most of the prints found at this website, the original plates and preliminary sketches still exist and create a trail from initial conceptual development to the final series.

Developing the Final Image from a Drawing

Joe Chris often completed several drawings prior to starting work on a plate. In this particular print, the drawing was tranferred to a engravers copper which allows for the widest range of tones and linear clarity.

>> See the final print, "Donna"

Documenting Travel

These two pen and ink drawings were completed during a trip to Italy. There are dozens of these drawings and yet only two finished prints exist. Most of the drawings are completed in pencil. Then tracing paper is overlaid and the drawing copied and made ready for reversal transfer to the plate as shown below.

>> See Italian Hill Town and Italian Village

Color Images, Templates & Registration

Joe Chris often used metal templates and shaped zinc plates as seen in the last image above. He would experiment with colors, shapes, color overlays (both transparent and opaque), and use metal templates to "stop-out" areas he wished to receive no ink. This particular image is based on the idea of an Egyptian sarcophagus. There are numerous drawings and color experiments for this series of prints.

>> See Tut's Tomb

Abstract images like the ones above were common to Robertson's work and often were created using color overlays and shaped plates like the one below.

>> See Interposed Inlet

Narrative Images

Robertson had a sharp interest in literature, music, history and philosophy, among other subjects. Many of his prints draw together his perceptions of these types of narrative ideas with a variety of formal techniques producing uniquely rich and personal images.

Zinc Printing Plate	Zinc Plate with Templates in Position
Preliminary Sketches and Overlays	Head Study for Gustav

"All That Gustav and Alma Stuff" is based on the tumultuous relationship between Gustav Mahler and Alma Mahler-Werfel who was well-known for her affairs with some of the most influential artists of the time such as Walter Gropius and Oskar Kokoschka. Robertson sketched numerous preliminary sketches for this color print which combine metal templates, text, decorative elements and multiple colors.

Self-Portraits

Completed Sketch	Preliminary Sketch
Relief Print Plate	Artist Proof

Robertson completed many self-portraits, most of which survive as simple sketches. This particular self-portrait was completed as a wood block relief print in two versions.

>> See Self-Portrait

Reference Links

Printmaking Techniques provided by Coskun Fine Art

Relief & Intaglio Techniques provided by The Washington Printmakers Gallery

Printmaking Links provided by Judy Decker