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Etchings
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What is an etching?
In Etching a metal plate is first covered with an acid-proof hard ground made of asphaltum, beeswax, rosin and solvent. Wherever the artist scratches lines or textures in the ground, the acid will "bite" with clear definition. The longer the plate is left in the acid the deeper the open lines will become, making them print heavier and increasing the darkness of the print. The ground is then removed, and the plate is inked, wiped clean and printed in exactly the same way as an engraving. It is much easier to draw quickly on the waxy ground than it is directly onto the plate and this is why etching became the preferred technique for artists such as Picasso and Matisse who wanted to match the fluidity of drawing with the aesthetic possibilities of printing.
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 Olinda etching 2001 |
Aquatint
Aquatint, which I used for "Staircases", is another tonal intaglio method, similar to etching in that it involves the use of acid to eat into the plate but uses a porous resin powder, fused to the plate, rather than a needle. When exposed to acid, the acid creates tiny depressions around each particle of powder, which hold the ink when printed. The powder can be of different particle or grain size and can be applied in varying thicknesses resulting in depressions of contrasting depth and density. These produce tonal variations which form the image, creating a watercolour-like effect.
Etching and Aquatint
2001
All reproductions of these original works of art are ©1990-2002 material of Colleen Corradi and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the artist.
