I spent 14 logged hours this past week working on hard ground line etching outside of class. In class I am determined to complete the carbon wash process, and I am only supposed to do carbon wash under instructor supervision. Me + harmful chemicals = WHOA! Anyway, the hard ground line etching allows you to scrape away metal and print from the metal surface.
Now, I have chosen dance as my topic in art and out of art. I have been focusing a lot on two dance moves in particular that I have captured in photos before. My goal is to be able to duplicate them with my body and on paper. What I didn't know about etching is that it doesn't like to show movement; if you screw up, you have to work with the metal and create something else. Metal is a stubborn matter. You have to teach yourself to be aggressive with the tools, regardless if your subject is something beautiful, and calm. For the first time, I have accepted that my art has become a little abstract; it is hard to avoid with this medium. Carbon wash is more fluid and beautiful... graceful... like dance. Etching, not so much, but I am pleased to say that I have mastered etching, and I like what I have done. Part of why I enjoy the etching is because I am given more time to mix my colors of ink and determine in what way I will touch the plate. Even fingerprints will show up in a print and if you left the full rolled ink on the surface, it would bleed and the subject wouldn't show up. So every time your hand, covered or uncovered, touches the metal, something will change. And that scared me.... but after making the print above, I conquered that fear and made 3 metal plates, and approx. 20 prints in many colors and sizes. Trying something new is always good for you.
Now if only I could master the dance moves with my body. That may take a little more practice :)
Enjoy your day,
-R
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