Alan Larkin

Alan Larkin likes to experiment. At Carleton College, he experimented with the idea of becoming a doctor, spending two years as a pre-med student. “However,” he says, “I discovered that while I enjoyed the sciences, my true passion was for drawing.”

Since then, he has experimented with his craft for more than 50 years, taught printmaking and drawing at IU-South Bend for nearly 40 years and hosted numerous workshops. “Indiana has a proud tradition of printmaking,” he said. “Indiana University and Herron School of Art were national centers for print study. My father, who also was a printmaker, studied lithography at Herron in the 60’s, and I see myself as continuing this history.

“I love the process of developing compelling stories through art,” he says. “The etching medium captivates me with its vast possibilities, offering numerous techniques and outcomes to explore.” Printmaking and etching require a great deal of skill and patience. “Each step must be approached with care and attention,” Alan said, noting that today his focus primarily is etching. “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.”

Alan develops his ideas through collages, allowing him to experiment with multiple images, with each helping to achieve his overall design and story-telling objectives. “I carefully draw from the collaged concepts, continuously editing and refining,” he said. Once satisfied, he prepares the image for transfer to the plate, where the final process takes place.

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, and Alan issues these as numbered editions. “Copper plates are covered with a dark, acid-resistant, waxy ground,” he said. “Marks are made with sharp tools 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.”

The process involves multiple steps. If the image is too light, the plate can be re-ground and new marks added. If it is too dark, marks can be scraped, burnished or sanded off. Alan frequently adds very fine details and often works under a microscope.

Reinforcing the artistic benefits of experimenting, he said, “As an experimentalist, I am continually motivated to try new approaches, always searching for innovative ways to achieve my artistic goals. This spirit of experimentation keeps my work fresh and energizing, allowing me to push boundaries and deepen my engagement with each piece I create.”