The Swan - hand tinted Solar plate etching

The Swan
2010
solar plate etching with hand tinting
open edition





I am in the process of creating a series of small miniature studies from left over ends of a larger piece of solar plate. Here is one of the first to emerge from the studio yesterday.
The swan study is from a plate (5 x 5 cm or 2 x 2 inches sq.). Here in the photo it is set into a 15 x 15 cm sq. mat (6 x 6 inches).
I scan the artwork and then using the inkjet printer print the artwork as grayscale onto a specially coated clear plastic transparency page. The plate was exposed to an artificial lightsource (UV emitting blacklight) in a homemade exposure unit. A double exposure method was used. The positive was set on top of the plate and a piece of glass clamped over top. First a fine dot aquatint screen exposure was made (1.5 min) which was then followed by the positive (3 min). The plate was developed in lukewarm water by scrubbing with a soft bristle toothbrush.
Subtle lines were added into the polymer plate surface using a drypoint needle to add a little definition into the bird. Then Graphic Chemical Intense black ink (modified with a little Easy Wipe compound) was applied to the plate and wiped using tartalan cloth followed with a surface wipe using yellow pages from an old phone book .
These were printed onto Magnani Revere 250 gsm suede white rag paper. The paper was soaked in water first for maybe 5 min and then blotted between white cotton towel with MDF board set on top.
Once the inked plate and paper pass under the roller of the my etching press I taped down each print onto a piece of plywood with butchers tape and set aside to dry.
A bit later using Daniel Smith and Fragonard watercolour I applied the colour tint into the water and the swans bill.
I apologize for the visible watermark in the print, this is just for copyright protection while the image is displayed online when a right click disable option is not available.

Monotype in Acrylic

shore study - Lake Superior

The following landscape was created by painting individual layers of acrylic colour on to a sheet of Grafix Dura-lar wet media film that was laid over the top of a sketch.(as the film is clear and the sketch taped down underneath acted as a guide for painting).

Using a piece of masking tape I hinged a piece of Yupo paper to the Dura-lar. After each application of paint I flipped the paper over on top and burnished with back of a tablespoon. I could then wipe the paint remnants off the wet media film with a damp sponge cloth and apply the next layer of colour. I worked from lightest color to darkest and had to apply the paint quickly at first but then added some acrylic retarder which bought me a bit more time.

I am pleased with the loose impressionist feeling that it conveys however I might add just a slight bit more definition in the foreground foliage. The image size roughly 15 cm x 20 cm (6 x 8 inches).

The Yupo synthetic paper is quite different. To the touch he feel is slightly like a non-skid surface. It accepts acrylic nicely which builds up in thin layers on the surface of this product. I kind of wonder though what kind of effect another type of paper such as a heavier rag might have produced. May try another (not necessarily the same composition)