Print Class - Etching

I want to go back to the Samsung post I put up today to explain the Dragon Fly image.

Last week we had a session on Etch Printing and the previous weeks wood carving turned out OK (not posted about those yet) but I was a little disappointed with the design I had created.  I felt that in the end it was a little "safe".

So when we were told we would be creating and Etch design on a piece of A6 aluminium I decided I  wanted to try something more.

I have been given a birthday card with some painted Dragon flies on it and thought....Yes!

Aluminium Plate (Copyright Indigoblue)

The plate is warmed on a hotplate and whilst it is there hardground is added to the surface and spread out using a roller.

Then using a scribe we added out chosen design fee hand.

I decided to base my idea on this card but arranged it as I wanted to and tried to use as much of the plate as possible.  The hardground is brown so as you scratch in the design the silver aluminium shows through so it is much easier to see.

Once the design is complete gloves are then put on so that the plate can be carefully added to a tray of mordant with will etch away the exposed aluminium and leave the areas where the Hardground is still covering the metal.

It is quite fascinating to watch and we could see why the gloves were needed.

You can see the finished plate above.  What I also like about these plates and that of the Intaglio we did last term, is that you can re-use them and you have a record of your work.

Clear print on Fabriano paper

I then created a series of prints using Fabriano paper which needs to be soaked and dried first before putting through the roller press.

Brown parcel paper

I did try one on brown paper which did come out a bit pale.  I was told I should have soaked the paper but I thought being much thinner, that this paper would fall apart.  Well I have decided to try and add some paint to this one and see what I can do to improve it.

A little darker with this print.

Each print comes out slightly different even though you think you are doing the same thing every time.  I have yet to lay the paper straight on the plate each time although I think it moves a bit when it goes through the press!  I really like these and they have more content that my wood cuts which roved to be easier to carve then I was expecting.  I would like to try again with that if I can find some wood from a fruit tree. 

I have really enjoyed this course and I have learnt so much.  I wish I could afford to give up work and go back to college!!  Do you think my Hubby would notice?

xx

Printing Evening Class - Term 2 Intalglio

Unfortunately I missed week one due to work commitments so I only had  1 session to re-visit Intaglio printing which I really enjoyed at the beginning of term 1.  The print above I have etched onto aluminium and then etching ink is rubbed on quite thickly.  The ink is then rubbed off but at the same time rubbed into the grooves created by the etched in design (which I created using a simple etching tool from Screw fix).

Tissue paper is glued and place glue side up on the printing plate so that as it goes through the roller press the tissue paper gets pressed and stuck on to the paper and printed on top with the design at the same time.

The plate measures about A6 and we use thick Italian Fabriano paper which needs soaking in water and drying lightly before going through the press. 

I am really pleased with how this turned out and I have some more plates to try out different designs which I might be able to print at the end of the term when we will possibly have a "free" style session.

A different print without any tissue paper contrast.

Using my etching tool (basic metal scribe) I also hand etched a design on to a CD which then went through the same printing process with the Etching ink and rubbing it away carefully with tissue paper before putting it through the roller press.  After my trial prints, which I was very  happy with even the centre circle looked pretty good, I decided to take the idea further.

I then decided to try over lapping the prints to try and create a further pattern.  I did not have a very big piece of paper so the position of the circles was really determined by space rather than choice.

I think that this idea could look really interesting if it was created using several different colours.

I also like the fact that these plates can be re-used and will last a long time if I look after them.  

Next week we are going to start learning how to create wood carving for printing with.  brand new area for me and I am really not sure what images to use to I am going to go along the abstract route.  It will also be a strength test for my injured finger since it was sorted out last August.

Will let you know how I get on.

Have a good weekend.

xx

Print Class 1- Dry Point Printing

I thought last weekend that I would log some of the work that I have been doing at my print class since September.  Signing up was a result of doing some printing on my A level course over the past two years.

So our first meeting gave us an introduction and an idea of what we would be covering over the coming weeks.

Our first session looked at the technique of  Dry point printing.

Each week we have tried a new technique we have also been given a lovely full colour quality handout  which has made the course more interesting and gives you something to read when you get home.

Dry point is when you use a scribe to add a design to create grooves on the surface.  We used aluminium sheet with bevelled edges for printing with.  This is also called Intaglio which comes from the Italian word intaglio.

So I sat there and carefully came up with a design on the aluminium sheet.

I hope you can see it, it was really hard trying to get a picture without some kind of reflection.  I decided to go for a hedgerow theme with grasses and cowslips etc with different textures being added at the base with different types of scribes and metal implements.

We all used black ink which is added to the surface and then rubbed onto the plate with a large piece of scrim.  iI looks like you are taking most of it off again but you are in fact rubbing it into the grooves that you have created.  You then go over the top again with some tissue paper to remove more and then you are ready to print.

We used special Italian paper called Fabriano which needs soaking and lightly drying first.

The plate is then put on the roller press with the paper on top then roll through..... and keep your fingers crossed!

The paper is not cut with scissors, but ripped to give a lovely edge to it.

Once it has been put through the press it leaves a lovely dent in the paper which sort of gives it a frame.  I was really pleased with the effect it gave.

The next sample was to add some tissue paper which is lightly pritt sticked to the plate and them put through the press again.

I really was rather concerned as to whether my tissue paper would end up in the right place, but I need not have worried and I was pleased at how it turned out.

Whilst I was waiting to make more prints I decided to move on to another surface with my scribe.

There were numerous unused CD's and I sat down to create a circular version of my aluminium plate.

Due to time I did not get a chance to print it.

However this coming Monday is my last session and as part of our end of term "Printing Party" I am going to have a go then instead.  I have numerous CD's upstairs as memory sticks took over which can now be put to use and this is a technique that I could use at school.

I really like the re0usabloe quality of the metal plate and I would like to get some more of this.

Hope you like lesson 1 and I shall try to speed up with more techniques and picture examples of what I ended up with.

I have enjoyed this so much that my friend and I have signed up for next term as well!

Bye for now.

xx

Sketchbook Sunday 2

I made some new Poppy seed head lino cuts at my Printing evening class last Monday and decided that perhaps they would make a good start for another Art Journal page.

Painted the page with Gesso to seal it and to allow me to use paint without it going through to the other side.  I think that I will have to start sticking the pages together as they are rather thin for this type of work.

I then added burnt sienna watercolour from a tube and painted both pages.

I also added some ripped sections from an old book to break up the painted [age but also to add interest.

I printed with the lino print and it possibly was not as clear as it could have been due to the uneven surface created by the contents of the previous page.

So in the end I re-printed it on to grey art paper and then stuck that on to my page to cover the not so good print!

I then added some white paint using a white paint pen and then white acrylic paint with a brush.

The other page was more successful.

With this side I added white and black pen with some mark making and more water colour paint.

I decided that this time I would add some writing.

"Happiness held is the seed, happiness shared is the flower"

I had bought some stamps when we went to Creative stitches in Exeter in September, so I decided to have a play with those too with some matching ink that I had.

This has perhaps turned out a little darker than I intended but I liked to two variations on the lino cut that i printed.  This is a slightly different direction for me as my sketchbooks are normally for recording rather than painting into directly but I shall keep going until I find a style and theme that I like and get along with.

I thought that over the coming weeks you might like to also see some of my evening class printing so I shall be adding pictures of those too.

If Art journaling interests you then do pop over to You tube as there are many good videos with links to blogs and websites.

Have a good week.

xx