Introducing Copper Plate etching – an intaglio printmaking technique that dates back five hundred years. Workshop participants will learn about the process, create their own copper plate, etch the plate and make their own prints. We will also explore the use of the aquatint technique. If you like drawing, experimenting and art process, you’ll enjoy this form of printmaking, which is a versatile form of printmaking that can yield a wide range of line and tonal effects.
The word "Intaglio" means to engrave or carve into. When used in printmaking terms, it involves incising lines and marks into a copper plate that is later inked and the image transferred to paper through a press. "Aquatint" is an intaglio technique that is used to create tonal effects instead of lines. It can often be used in combination with Etching, but for this workshop we will use aquatint on its own. Workshop participants will receive a plate ready to create using the aquatint technique.
For both processes, each print is a result of inking the plate by hand, wiping the excess ink off of the surface of the plate leaving ink only in the recessed parts of the plate. Paper is then placed on the plate and it is run through the press to transfer the image to the paper. Each print pulled is considered an original.
Participants should plan to bring a 4"x6" sketch to work from. A simple image will be easier for your first etching. All other tools and materials will be provided. This workshop is geared towards beginners who have never used the intaglio process before, but all experience levels are welcome.
