The etching process - Creating the etching plate.

1) To begin with an acid resistant ground is applied to the zinc plate. The grounds are made from a combination of asphaltum, beeswax and rosin and can be brushed on in liquid form or the hardball can be melted and rolled on to a heated plate.
2) The artist then draws an image into the ground with various needles, thus exposing the metal underneath, bearing in mind, that the image will print in reverse.
3) The etching plate is then immersed in an acid bath until the plate begins to 'bite' the metal, where the ground has been removed. Different strengths of acid can be used for different strengths of line, but a general solution is: 8 parts water to 1 part nitric acid.
4) Shading is added to an art print by 'aquatinting'. A fine mist of acid resistant particles, is dusted or sprayed over the plate, before it is immersed in acid. The plate will then bite away in those minute areas still exposed. The darkness of the tone is increased by leaving the plate in the acid solution for differing lengths of time.
5) Texture can be created on the etching plate by laying different fabrics, such as sacking, net or gauze, on to a soft grounded plate and by then running it through the etching press.

The 'original' (3 section) etched and uninked zinc plate
lies in front of a fine art print of 'Pinot Noir'

The etching process - Inking the Plate

Oil based ink is smeared over the etching plate and the surface wiped completely clean. The purpose of wiping is to remove most of the ink from the surface of the plate, while still leaving ink in the etched lines. Colours may be added, by blending and wiping separately with different cloths, taking care to keep each area clean. When the inking is completed, dampened paper is placed over the inked plate and rolled slowly, by hand, through a printing press. The paper, is then forced into the ink-filled lines and when taken from the etching press, retains an exact, but reversed image of the plate surface - inked and embossed. Each time a new print is made, the plate has to be re-inked, wiped and again pushed through the press. A large etching can take up to an hour to hand ink and print just one image.

Etching
'To etch - is to corrode metal and disolve it with acid'

Original Limited Edition Prints

Original limited edition fine art prints should never be confused with commercial reproductions. (Some of which may or not be produced in 'limited editions'). A reproduction is a copy, not necessarily the same size, of a separate original (often a painting), made by photographic mass production techniques, such as used to print a glossy magazine. Etchings are true hand crafted art prints and can usually be distinguished by the embossed indentation in the paper, left behind by the metal edge of the plate. The zinc or copper plate itself is the 'original', as it's surface is shaped by hand by the artist. The hand printing of the plate also contributes to each fine art print's individuality. A limited number of prints are made, by hand from each etching plate. Each print in the edition is numbered, titled and signed by the artist. The notation 'A/P' refers to an artist's proof. A notation such as '1/30' refers to the first print in an edition of 30 prints, 24/30 means the 24th print in an edition of 50. Attempts are made to keep editions of the fine art prints the same, but there will always be subtle variations in colour and tone, as a result of the unique hand inking process.

3 inked zinc sections of 'shorebird' lie on the bed of the press,
while a fresh art print pulled from the etching plates drapes across
the blanketed press.

The engraving and etching process

Etchings and engravings are very similar and these two printmaking methods are often confused. Both produce original fine art prints, that are inked and hand printed in limited editions, in the same manner. However, the fine lines on an etching plate are created using the traditional acid etching method, while the lines of an engraving are scratched or 'engraved' directly on to the plate.

Etching - original art at an affordable price