07/20/2026
Printmaker Alan Larkin likes to experiment. He experimented with the idea of becoming a doctor, until 2 years in pre-med taught him that his true calling was drawing. For more than 50 years, the South Bend Indiana Artisan has experimented with -- and mastered -- printmaking, which has a long, proud tradition in Indiana.
“The etching medium captivates me with its vast possibilities, offering numerous techniques and outcomes to explore,” he says, noting that printmaking and etching like medicine, require a great deal of skill and patience. “Each step must be approached with care and attention. Every print is the result of a deliberate, methodical process, ensuring that the final piece reflects both the technique and the story behind its creation.”
The etching process involves drawing on copper plates, immersing them in acid and transferring images onto paper. The plate can produce copies of the original, which are issued as numbered editions. “Copper plates are covered with a dark, acid-resistant, waxy ground,” Alan said. Sharp tools make marks that expose the copper color. “Evaluating the drawing takes skill as lines which will eventually print as black on a white ground appear as light lines on a dark ground. And of course, they are right-reading rather than left-reading.”
Alan will demonstrate his creative process during a Friends of Indiana Artisan studio visit, 1-4 p.m. Aug. 1. Participation is limited and tickets, $10, are required. FMI: events.ticketleap.com/tickets/indianaartisanorg/visit-with-a-printmaker
