For most forms of art, what you see is what you get. But SF State's long-running Printmaking Guild is all about the element of surprise -- even though they're artistically the University's biggest copycats without ripping off anyone or anything.

For the Printmaking Guild and those within the artistic community at SF State, the art they produce is all about the copy. There's no need for fresh paint or clean brushes because printmaking focuses more on the process and the quality of its clones.

For over 40 years, instead of using the conventional brush and canvas, these talented artists have fed off of fellowship, dedication and the support of other artists.

The guild works to raise money through selling prints that help run workshops and purchasing printing equipment, but it is mostly designed to be an outlet of broadening and expanding artistic horizons.

"The guild is available so I can learn more about printmaking and make more prints," said art student Mario Miron, 19, who plans to join the guild in the near future. "It's good for massive distribution and it's much better than a Xerox machine." Artists can become members by simply attending a meeting and expressing an interest in printmaking.

"We're very welcoming for new blood," said artist and alumna Lindsey Wolkin, 29.

The art of printmaking uses newer processes that are considered experimental as well as using variations of old traditional etching and lithography. But the process starts small.

From printing methods intaglio, planographic, stencil relief and viscosity printing, students and members of the guild go through an elaborate process in order to put out a piece.

Intaglio printing is a technique in which an image is incised onto a copper or zinc plate, whereas planographic printing is created with a flat surface. Intaglio, relief and planographic printing processes print the art as a reversed image.

Many of these projects begin with a simple drawing on paper before taking a very complicated turn with steps involving carbon monoxide and aluminum.

"Everything starts off with thumbnails and sketching," said artist and alumnus Peter Davy, 37.

Printers and other artists alike believe printmaking is a communal space where artists exchange knowledge in order to help each other grow. The University provides a large lithography studio with over 25 extremely flat, smooth limestone surfaces --essential to the printmaking process.

"It was an extra limb to the whole system for students to expand, change, and make the guild better," said professor and guild member Mario Laplante.

Every artist has an idea of how the final product will turn out, but printmaking demands a blueprint.

"You have to have a clear vision of what you like to see accomplished," said Wolkin. "Many variables can change an image. If I put in a batch of acid? If I cut it with a needle? In painting, you paint on a canvas, but there's an element of mystery in printmaking which is a big attraction for people."

The guild got one of its first bursts of notoriety with its prints and creations made during SF State's 1968 strike, which was the longest in the school history. One print to be shown in the Art Gallery of the Cesar Chavez Student Center, read "Help! I'm Too Young To Die," in protest against the campus administration.

And as of Oct. 15, modern student artists and alumni were able to debut their latest work, titled "Making Im(press)ions" in the Art Gallery of the Student Center.

Young aspiring student artists were given a chance to shine, thanks to the guild's generous and encouraging opportunity to showcase their work in The Art Gallery.

"I submitted impressions and reliefs for the show and hopefully they'll be up," he said.

Miron's very own portraits of Hollywood legends Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman are hanging in the exhibit. These are just a couple of the examples that are blowing away students and faculty, especially gallery manager, art curator and student Molly Cox.

"I've been seeing the work out of the department and there are phenomenal artists," said Cox, 19. "The show's to provide a vehicle to display their descent."

"Im(press)ions: Printmaking" will be open until Nov. 19, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Student Center Art Gallery.