Etching on card

PRINTMAKING

Etching

Etching on card: I liked the idea of etching on to an existing image because it took away the importance of the image and let me concentrate on making marks instead. I found some postcards created by the Kirwan weavers in my local shop.

Tools: Using an etching needle, darning needle, pen (biro) & pencil I etched along lines of the image on the card.

Paper: Watercolour paper or good quality heavy paper is used to print the image . The watercolour paper sometimes comes in a block form and it was difficult to tear off.

Solution: Place a metal ruler in the centre at the spin area of the block and gently place the ruler under one page, go around the page with the ruler gently lifting the paper up to un glue it. Go around all four sides the same and the paper should come of the block in one piece with no tears.

Preparing the paper for printing on: I placed the paper in a water bath for 10 minutes then I took it out and placed it between sheets of newspapers so the excess water was soaked up before printing, I left it between the newspaper for another 10 minutes.


Inking up the card: Next I inked up the card in one colour (red). I placed the printing ink on a glass plate, I got a rag wrapped tightly in tape an dabbed the ink onto the card making sure all the marks were covered by the ink. Then using folded up newspaper and holding it flat on to the card I gently rubbed the card to remove the excess ink, leaving the ink in the etched marks.

Printing the card: I used a small etching press to print the card

I placed news print on the bottom of the plate, placed my inked up card on the news print (making sure to put the newsprint and card far enough up the plate towards the roller so when it goes through the press I am able to lift the paper without it being stuck underneath the roller (I did this in my first attempt and ended up having to roll the plate back and the image was blurred.

Once the newsprint and card are on the press I get my paper and place over the card, trying to centre the paper on to the card to produce an even image on the paper.

Etched print on card

I then started to look at the image I had created and began to think about the way the original design dissected the soft fabrics from the plates and pottery lamp stand, the scarves from the flowers etc.. and I began to think about the divisions in the home by rooms i.e kitchen, living room, bedroom. That led me on to the dysfunctional family, disassociation, isolation, division, lack of community.

It seems farfetched to believe that from a few lines dividing images on a card led me to see all the above, but it was the combination of the household and personal items that took me on the journey.

So I started a new card with the intension of cutting up the sections and rearranging them.

See the results below: