LITHOGRAPHY PRESS - designed and constructed by Jacob Semko, Nik Semenoff and Marshall Heaton.

I have had the good fortune and opportunity of being taught waterless lithography by Dr. Semenoff. Not only did his teaching set a strong technical foundation for the printmaking process, but he also shared his knowledge about goldsmithing, passion for construction, and excitement for invention. Consequently, a strong emphasis on technical craft has been adapted to everything I create.

Nik also is the instrumental catalyst in teaching me how to design and construct my own printmaking presses. The Lithography Press was completed in 2001 and is capable of printing stone and plate lithography. It has a printing surface capable of printing editions 26” x 42” in size. The frame is constructed from scrap angle iron and bed is laminated red oak. The press has the ability to print both plate and stone lithography.

View photographs of the press during construction...

ETCHING PRESS - designed and constructed by Jacob Semko & Nik Semenoff.

More recently I have completed the construction of an Etching Press, designed specifically for printing larger prints. It has a bed size of 30” x 60” and is constructed entirely from recycled scrap materials such as steel and laminated exotic wood.

For more information on the process of waterless lithography visit the New Directions on Printmaking website – created and designed by Dr. Nik Semenoff.