Printmaking as a Business

A Printmaking Business

Printmaking is the art of producing images through printing, most often on paper, though it can also be applied to fabric, wood, metal, and other surfaces. The term traditional printmaking usually refers to hand-crafted methods of creating prints, as opposed to photographic reproductions produced by electronic printers. That said, there is some overlap between traditional and digital practices—risograph printing, for example, bridges both worlds.

At its core, printmaking involves transferring ink from a prepared surface, or matrix, onto paper or another material. Different techniques employ different matrices:

• Metal plates for engraving, etching, and other intaglio processes

• Stone, aluminium, or polymer for lithography

• Wood blocks for woodcuts and wood engravings

• Linoleum sheets for linocuts

• Silk or synthetic screens for screen printing

Beyond these, many other substrates and processes expand the possibilities of the medium.

Using Light: Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink‑blocking stencil. A light‑sensitive film is applied to the screen before exposure to a strong light source. Once processed, the stencil forms open areas of mesh that allow ink to be pressed through. A squeegee is drawn across the screen, forcing ink through the open mesh and onto the surface below.

This method of printmaking—also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, or serigraph—has long been a way for artists and makers to reproduce designs with bold colour and texture. Historically, printmaking has been treated as the “poor relation” of the art world, often seen as a reproduction of a more “serious” work like a painting. Yet the tradition has evolved: today, the print itself can be the original, the statement, the business.

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Why Self‑Hosting Matters for Printmakers

If you’re building a printmaking business, your online presence is as important as your ink and screens. Relying on third‑party platforms or free hosting packages can limit your control, dilute your brand, and leave you vulnerable to sudden changes in terms or visibility.

Self‑hosting your website gives you:

• Full control of your brand – Your domain, your design, your rules.

• Creative freedom – No templates forced on you; you can present your work exactly as you want.

• Direct connection with customers – No middleman taking a cut or inserting ads.

• Scalability – As your business grows, your site can grow with it, from a simple portfolio to a full e‑commerce store.

• Resilience – You’re not at the mercy of a platform shutting down or changing its algorithm.

For a printmaker, this means your website becomes more than a gallery—it’s your workshop window, your shopfront, and your archive. It’s where you tell the story of your process, showcase the tactile quality of your prints, and invite people into your world.

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Building Your Own Platform

• Start with a reliable hosting provider that allows you to scale.

• Use a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Ghost, or a static site generator if you prefer leaner control.

• Integrate e‑commerce tools so you can sell directly to your audience.

• Document your process—show the screens, the ink, the mess, the craft. This authenticity is what sets independent makers apart.

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The Print as Business, the Business as Print

Running a printmaking business is not just about producing multiples—it’s about producing meaning. Each print carries the trace of your hand, the imperfections of the process, and the story of its making. By self‑hosting your online presence, you extend that ethos into the digital space: independent, crafted, and fully yours.