Acid Etching
Acid etching is a process where you we acid to create images on metal. The process involves coating the metal in an acid resistant substance, then either leaving areas blank or scratching away the cover to make an image.
SOFT GROUND
A protective ground that remains soft to the touch so you can take impressions of textural objects such as leaves, feathers and bubble wrap.
HARD GROUND
The same ground as above but once you apply heat the surface becomes hardened, allowing you to draw into the plate using an etching needle or roulette wheel.
SANDPAPER AQUATINT
This is a lovely technique where you lay out a piece of fine grit sandpaper ontop of a hard ground and then draw onto the paper backing with a pen or pencil. This punches a series of tiny holes through the protective surface and creates a much more nuanced mark.
ICING SUGAR AQUATINT
Traditionally aquatint is a fine resin powder dusted onto the surface of a plate to create a random matrix of dots to print flat areas of tone. As this is an extremely toxic material I use Icing Sugar as an alternative.
SUGAR LIFT
To create painterly marks you can apply a sugary liquid to the plate, allow it to dry, cover with a hard ground and then lift them out with water. You can then apply an aquatint to create a sophisticated effect.
