Our Objective

Studio PM is an internationally acclaimed printmaking studio specializing in etching and aquatint. Founded in 1978 by Paul Machnik, Studio PM has been an incubator for numerous artists over the years. Having learned his trade first as an apprentice under Richard LaCroix, Paul went on to work with master plate makers in the professional engraving industry before opening his own studio.

Paul works with artist painters, developing and producing their work in etching and aquatint. The primary focus of the work is the collaboration between the artist and the printer working to produce the etching plate. A comparison could be made to musicians in a jam session riffing off one another in a recording studio. The spontaneity that arises from trying different methods and playing with materials results in wonderfully unique characteristics. As a result, a number of unusual techniques develop in the process. 

For the most part, invited artists work in a one-on-one workshop, spending a week or more in the studio developing their work. With a quiet professionalism, the artist is given an opportunity to expand and develop beyond a preconceived expectation, and therein lies the magic! In essence, the techniques are straightforward, and the aim is to have a tidy work environment with procedures in place that achieve results. However, it is with a loose approach that the fun arises. So often in this métier the medium takes over and the work can become sterile. But think of a child working unconsciously and producing the most incredible work: In the long run, this is what we are aiming for!

Photos: Mark Tomalty