Art Talk: The Art of Making an Impression,  a brief history of printmaking

Impressions from carved woodblocks have been made by humans for over 5,000 years, first into wet clay, then with inks on wood, fabric, or skins. It took about 3,000 years of this activity before the invention of paper, but it wasn’t until the late 14^th Century that images from printing became appreciated for their artistic value alone.

Once artists were freed to use the medium to express their own voice, instead of printing to serve religious or business purposes, the discoveries and technical developments flowed.

This illustrated program will trace the variety of printmaking techniques and reveal the many facets available to artists. Engraving on hardwood end-grain and metal, the discovery of the chemical elements to invent lithography, and the adaptation of stencils to silkscreen offered the artist even more methods for expression.

Discussion will include the rise of artists’ prints from a curious sideline to an equal place in today’s art world, where prints take their place alongside painting for aesthetic appreciation.

A Provincetown artist since 1970, William Evaul produces oil paintings and white-line woodblock prints as well as works on paper: drawings, watercolors and monotypes and monoprints. He employs a vibrant color palette and a kind of figurative expressionism to create a wide variety of images including musicians, New York skylines, nudes, wine bottle still lifes and a lively fauvist/cubist series called "Dancing Houses." As an educator, curator and art consultant in the field of 20th Century Art, Evaul conducts art workshops in white-line wood cut printmaking, slide lectures on Provincetown Art History, organizes exhibitions, produces certified appraisals and can advise on collection management. Browse this site for a sampling of the artwork and contact us directly for more information.

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