The etching workshop was focusing on mark making and engravings in different processes. There was a chemical method using a copper plate. After filing the plate edges and polishing it we applied a special ink called ground to print our thumb prints on to. Then baking it where the copper is very malleable leave the engraving where the ink is. Then soaking it in etching solution to rid of the ground ink leaving the etching.
I really liked this process as it involves covering and removing layers from the smooth plate looking from an Archaeology approach, as they excavate an area to look at the layers of substrate, then carving in markings to then print with ink leaving a textured design. It was also a scientific biological approach using different chemicals safely with the copper plate. This was similar to biologists and how they coat a small sample in liquid, to preserve it and keep it from drying out when inspecting things under a microscope. This for the etching process was the etching solution that was used to eat through the ground ink, leaving the thumb print exposed.
We also used an acrylic plastic which captured really fine details for example, cross hatching and fine line markings. I also found with the acrylic etching that holding it on top of a black background made it easier to see your line work or holding it up to the light. Another plate design was a tetra pack made from a milk carton, this looked at the Ecology approach by working with recycled materials such as these where they can reuse them for a different job like this as a printing plate. The tetra pack created a completely different texture, compared to the two other plates especially with the design I chose. My design was inspired by the style frottage used in field work to take rubbings of different surfaces . These made very different styles and fascinating surfaces to work on.
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