September 2024

Proofs, plates and playing with print technique I previously wrote off as too expensive, too inaccessible and too chemical-y. A couple years ago I was asked to teach a study abroad module in etching, which brought the technique back into my life. Intaglio printing is a process I tried out in the early days of art school inductions, but to really explore the possibilities you need time, patience and a sense of humour.

In my personal work I've been exploring dry point (scratching directly into copper, zinc or plastic) and safer copper etching with Edinburgh Etch solutions made from ferric chloride salts. It's a slow process over several days of preparing plates, letting things dry and cure, drawing the image, soaking in chemicals, cleaning the plate, then finally printing. The rich velvety lines and sculptural marks are hard to mimic in any other paper media.