Each
hand printed etching within an edition has been created entirely
by me.
I
begin by preparing a metal plate (usually steel or zinc). I
treat the surface of the plate with acid resist, draw and mark-make
on the surface and submerge the plate in acid for various lengths
of time, gradually building up layers of texture and lines.
Each
etching will have undergone many days of having the image and
textures bitten into it by the acid before I am happy to print
from it. To
print each etching special etching ink is rubbed onto to plate
(using fingers) and then polished off using various techniques.
Finally
it is ready to be put through the etching press (which looks like
a giant mangle), the plate is placed face up on the bed of the
press, specialist etching paper is soaked in water to soften it
and as they both pass through the press great pressure is applied
and the image (including all the texture and lines) is transferred
to the paper. The
etching is then gently wrapped in tissue and blotting paper and
placed under heavy boards to settle and dry for five days.
Now
it's ready for me to embellish it by hand using various combinations
of gilding, collage and paint. The influence of each medium and
process plays an important part in determining the character of
the final piece.
At
last it is the Embellished Etching you are familiar with!
Enjoying the process of creation and allowing myself the freedom
to experiment keeps my work fresh and exciting.
My
etchings have been featured in Sussex
Life, Arty Magazine
and Brighton and Hove Life.