Peoria, Illinois based artist, Miguel Rocha, creates in the age-old art form of traditional printmaking. He specializes in the relief printing technique. Each print begins utilizing carving tools to hand carve linoleum or wood blocks to reveal the image underneath. 

    Once he is finished carving the block he applies ink over the block with a rubber brayer. Next, he lays paper on top of the block to transfer the image. His process for this step is done with a printing press or by hand depending on the size of the print. He draws inspiration for each piece from his life experiences. 

    The artist studied at Aims Community College in Greeley, Co. This is where he learned to work in this medium and where he completed his Associates degree in liberal arts.       

    Everything about this process really resonates with the artists’ desire to create. The labor-intensive form of traditional printmaking to create each piece is both patience and technical art form that intrigues Miguel, which keeps him learning and improving with each piece he creates. Being able to master each process to make a print is a reflection of his life, it is about the journey along the way. Which he says “each step in the process is just as important as the end result”. 

    He asks every viewer to follow the journey and finish the story. 

 Recent Work