Etching

In this class students will explore various techniques of etching (or intaglio) on zinc plates such as, hard ground, soft ground, aquatint, marbling aquatint and sugar lift, through an electrolytic process that uses no acid but sulfates and very low electrical power (1.5 V or the same as a AA battery). This process is much less toxic that the traditional etching with nitric (which produces toxic fumes) or ferric acid (difficult to clean). These techniques will be complemented by other ones that can be mixed with etching such as photocopy transfers, Chine collé (attaching a different color paper between plate and main paper), and mono-printing. Etching/Intaglio (making a mark under the surface of the plate) is one of the most tactile and elegant forms of printmaking. The plate leaves a 3-D line mark and embossed marks in the deep etched areas as well as at the edges of the plate. Many major artists have left memorable images by working in this medium (Rembrandt, Goya, Kathe Kollwitz, Eduard Munch, and many others) influencing many contemporary artists.