While old-school lithography was done by drawing or writing on stone and newer technologies have allowed for photo sensitive aluminum litho plates to work, all manners rely on the same principle: oil and water don't mix.
Wherever greasy crayon or photo-emulsion lie on the plate, water won't be -- it will be in the negative areas. Ink rolled over all of this will stick on the greasy spots and be repelled from the water areas -- allowing, as you've guessed, an image and negative space to exist. (If you'd like to see the process in action, there are plenty of videos on YouTube showing it, such as
this stone demonstration.)
Modern technology is a neat thing, and there are even polyester (or "pronto") plates now, that can take a Sharpie and work! (I do not understand how that works, honestly, but it sure is cool.)
The details of lithography are quite fidgety, and of all the printmaking processes I have learned so far, it is one of the slowest in terms of producing multiples.
However, it is a good option if you are a fan of drawing! This
lithograph was made on an aluminum plate with an oily crayon of some
kind (sorry I didn't keep track). I do really like this finished
product.
Things We Did On Grass, 2012
