I have continued to explore the use of cardboard etching. Below is an image based on a photograph of a camel train from around 1913, from a desert region in Central Asia.
Cardboard etching
Chinese walls and cardboard etchings
Over summer I worked on some more cardboard etchings, again inspired by photographs taken by travellers in China between 1910 and 1930. These examples both feature a Chinese wall, similar to an earlier work.
Cardboard etchings of Tibetan Prayer Flag and more
I have continued to explore the possibilities of using cardboard as an etching plate. The following works have been printed using Graphics etching ink (sepia) on 250 gsm Dutch etch paper. For this print run, I only sprayed the surface of the paper with water, and then blotted the paper (rather than extensively soaking the paper), I also used PVC and acrylic fine tooth medium to alter the degree of abrasion on the plate surface.
Cardboard etching- results of workshop with Christine Willcocks
As mentioned in a previous post, I had booked into a cardboard etching class run by Christine Willcocks. The class was great. The material is simple but the results rival traditional copper plate etching for subtlety and tonal variation. Below are images from my practice run, with the 2 plates as well as the resultant ‘ghost’ (2nd run) print.
Cardboard etchings of Silk Road Ruins and more
In a few weeks I will be attending a print making workshop on cardboard etching, held by Christine Willcocks, an artist whose work I have admired for a long time. I decided I should try cardboard etching in advance, so I could make the most of the 2 day workshop. Internet research gave me some ideas on how to approach the topic, especially Jenny Robinson’s inspirational web site (with fantastic images).
So I tried 2 different types of cardboard (thick board similar to that used for book making, plus illustration board), with water based wood varnish as a sealant. The images are based on photos of ruins on the Silk Road plus a variety of natural forms (eg, kelp strands and gingko leaves). I used Akua water based etching ink (black). I was amazed at the tonal effects achieved, especially with the illustration board. Below are the results.
Here are some of the actual cardboard plates.
