Saturday, January 21, 2012

A New Print

Finally, this etching and print came together exactly how I had envisioned...
I was so tempted to post earlier pictures (I can never wait to share things with you!), but the colors weren't quite right - all but the blue are hand mixed - and there were things about the copper plates I needed to fix.
But Thursday and yesterday I printed an edition of six prints and every one of them is beautiful!
Truly, this time around, the whole process was a joy for me.
Every print took at least 30 minutes to prepare and print, which would have stressed me out last quarter, but not this time. I loved it!
I printed all of them on German Etching paper made by Hahnemühle - the most luscious paper, it's so thick and soft and the warm tone really makes the print beautiful.
I wanted to take pictures of the three copper plates (this print was done in layers) when they were inked and wiped, but I got so caught up in the process that I kept forgetting. So at the very end I remembered my camera and thought I'd get a few pictures of the ink and the plates.
The copper plate above is the portrait I started out with and the one below has the red background, for which I used a process called sugar lift. It basically works like a stencil to lift out the areas I want to have etched by the acid. Those etched areas are the ones that end up holing ink and printing. The patterns I got by using bubble wrap, shelf liner and scrunched up packing paper. The face you see on it is just a ghost image of ink that transfered onto the plate during the printing process.
For last plate with the flower garland I again used the sugar lift method, this time not stamped but painted onto the plate. For those of you more interested in all of this, click here for some great explanations and photos.
The photo below I took simply because I loved the colors. Those are the tarlatan cloths I used to wipe the excess ink of my plates. In the background are all the yummy etching inks...
Now, I'm already thinking of the next image as I want this to be a series of layered portraits.
Today, I'm hoping to do some drawing and painting for which I haven't had much time lately.

Life is good. I hope for you as well!!

13 comments:

  1. I love this print so much -- the layering, the textures, the colors -- everything came together to form such a gorgeous piece of art. You are definitely going with the flow, my friend, and here is the proof! ☺

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  2. Liebe Silke,

    bei dir ist die Welt noch in Ordnung.

    Liebe Grüße

    Elisabeth

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  3. Very cool Silke! I love it!! And wow, thanks for sharing some of the process! Looking forward to seeing more of these!

    :)

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  4. I love your print! Printmaking is really special. I feel the same way: combining creative process with craftsmanship and preparing the plates!! It has it all!

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  5. Liebe Silke,
    ich bin fasziniert. Das ist wunderschön geworden.
    LG Sabine

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  6. This is so very cool, Silke. I can hardly believe I have been witnessing - and be it from afar - your transformation in art. What a wonderful etching!

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  7. The blue is gorgeous--aren't you just so proud of your self when you look back and see how far you have come in such a short time!!

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  8. Your happiness is contagious. The print is just lovely. It is so fun to watch your progress. Have a good day.

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  9. Silke, du wirst immer besser. Wunderbarer Druck. Weiter so, I stay tunned:-) Liebe Grüße, Inge

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  10. how cool! now i see why you are so addicted! you have much patience to work with all those layers and have to wait to see what comes onto the final print! i love it! the colors are awesome. what skill you have mastered! you are drinking up an artful life right now...i'm so jealous!

    i'm still working on getting healthy, but am so close i can feel it! i'm even working on my ballet bar again!

    love and hugs to you dear friend!

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  11. Wow! It looks really lovely, Silke. Congrats on creating the prints!

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