Printing an Etching
An etching is an incised image bitten into a metal plate. It is inked to transfer the image to paper and run individually through a hand cranked etching press. Many variations of paper, inking, or embellishments may alter the presentation dramatically.
Rose no Red etching
Rose no Red framed shown with the hand drawn image etched into the copper plate.
First step in pulling a print. Paper is soaked in a water bath up to 24 hrs to soften the fibers and remove starches.
The ink is spread into every area of the plate.
The third step is wiping the excess ink off the surface lightly, so the ink stays in the deep lines and the lightest areas are clean.
To transfer the image to paper the plate is placed on the press bed, the paper gets laid on top of it, 3 blankets are used to cushion and push the softened paper with the pressure of the press rollers into the inked lines in plate.
Abstract Figure print and it's copper plate. The image is in the reverse on the plate.
After the edition is pulled, each print is numbered, titled, and signed by the artist.
A layer of ink is applied then squeegeed off surface
After several wipings of inked surface the plate is ready to print
the paper receives nearly all of the ink off the copper plate.
2 colors can be achieved by inking a color into the lines and rolling color on the surface of the same etching plate.
Cherry Blossom a series of multiple plates printed with different papers, some with chine colle rice papers
another Cherry Blossom print in the series on my handmade paper
Spring Gesture etching, is printed with black ink with chine colle of pink rice papers on cream paper. another version is on white rice papers
layout of chine colle rice paper for plates
preparing chine colle rice papers
Spring Gesture etching with hard ground.
Fall Arrangement etching from zinc plate
Peonies in Ribbon Vase 2 plate 4 color etching
Poinsettia 1 etching - 2 plates were designed, one for each color
Profile 1 hard and soft ground etching
Profile ll, etching with aquatint
Shasi Come etching made with white ground and aquatint
Man with Pillow hard ground with rosin aquatint
The Old Spruce etching with aquatint
Ginko leaves inked and printed onto white rice paper with gold thread inclusions
Gingko leaves 2 color version printed rice paper
"Woolie" etching plate with some ink left for "plate tone" with highlights selectively wiped further.
inked plate on the press bed
print on paper with plate on press bed
signing the tethered edition