Tour Eiffel 12 X 9
This etching with aquatint features a view with a Ducati overlooking the Eiffel Tour, printed in an edition of 25.
Tuscany 12 X 9
This is a hand colored etching featuring a view of a Tuscan farm printed in an edition of 30
NYC Street Vendor 9 X 6
This etching with aquatint depicts a typical hot dog vendor in NYC. Printed in an edition of 25
Sunset, Venice 6 X 4.5
This color etching with aquatint, spit bite and dry point accents was produced in an edition of 10
Paris Doorway 6 X 3.75
This etching was printed with black and umber ink for a rich, antique look. Produced in an edition of 25
Coraux Rouges 16 X 12
This etching is layered over a block printed intense under color. Edition was limited to 15.
ETCHING DEFINED
Printing using the etching technique is a fairly involved process. I begin with a copper plate which has been cut to the size required for a particular print. A ground material is applied upon which the artwork will be developed. The art is scribed into the ground exposing the copper plate. The plate is then submerged into an acid bath, which bites or etches the image into the surface of the copper. The process is typically repeated several times to achieve darker and lighter areas. Once the etching is completed, the plate is cleaned of the remaining ground, heated and ink is forced into the etched lines. The surface is wiped using a cloth and my hand. The plate is then passed through a manually operated press which transfers the image to a dampened sheet of paper. The inking process is repeated for each print.
Hard ground: The ground is applied to the plate and dries to a hard surface. The resulting print looks similar to pen and ink work.
Soft ground: The applied ground does not harden as it cures allowing for a looser line effect. Any mark or impressed texture will be reproduced with variations in pressure when etched in acid. The line work has a softer, crayon appearance.
Aquatint: This process allows for the creation of tones through use of a powdered rosin or spray paint. Acid is used to bite the tones into the plate to different depths, depending on the time allowed, resulting in varying, darker tones.
Spit bite: This process uses acid painted directly onto a plate that has been prepared for aquatint. The process results in a more painterly effect.
Dry point: A sharp needle or diamond point is used to scratch a line directly onto the plate. The resulting burr holds ink and creates a rich, fuzzy line. No acid is used.
Chine colle: A method of adhering thin pieces of colored paper directly to the larger printing paper at the same time that the inked image is printed.
Hard ground: The ground is applied to the plate and dries to a hard surface. The resulting print looks similar to pen and ink work.
Soft ground: The applied ground does not harden as it cures allowing for a looser line effect. Any mark or impressed texture will be reproduced with variations in pressure when etched in acid. The line work has a softer, crayon appearance.
Aquatint: This process allows for the creation of tones through use of a powdered rosin or spray paint. Acid is used to bite the tones into the plate to different depths, depending on the time allowed, resulting in varying, darker tones.
Spit bite: This process uses acid painted directly onto a plate that has been prepared for aquatint. The process results in a more painterly effect.
Dry point: A sharp needle or diamond point is used to scratch a line directly onto the plate. The resulting burr holds ink and creates a rich, fuzzy line. No acid is used.
Chine colle: A method of adhering thin pieces of colored paper directly to the larger printing paper at the same time that the inked image is printed.