Marshall McLuhan, the controversial and misunderstood Canadian philosopher, is infamous for claiming that “the medium is the message.” While the true meaning of this phrase remains ambiguous, it sheds a great deal of light on the nature of artistic expression.

I am a printmaker, working primarily in a family of techniques known as intaglio, from the Italian “to engrave.” The image is cut into a metal surface by etching, engraving, drypoint, or a similar approach. Ink is applied to the surface, which is then rubbed with tarlatan cloth to remove the excess, leaving ink only in the incisions. A damp piece of paper is placed on top of the plate and run through a printing press, where pressure transfers the ink from the recesses of the plate to the paper.

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world—a “global village,” as McLuhan would have it—I rely on a method that has changed little since its invention in the 15th century. It is labor-intensive. It is messy and unmanageable, like a child. It is imprecise and often painstaking, with no promise of instant gratification. Some might call it archaic, even primitive.

But it is this antiquated form that enables me to express myself as an artist. As I walk through the process—etching, inking, printing, and over again—the image emerges gradually. It is directed randomness, filled with revelation and disappointment at every turn. The work I create, my “message,” is inextricably linked to this medium.

Please take a look at my portfolios featuring work in intaglio, batik, and other media, as well as a linocut interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. And check my news page for information about new work and upcoming shows.

For more information, contact me at staley56 [at] hotmail [dot] com. You can also sign up to receive updates via RSS or email.

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