Etch

Recently I had a taste of the technique of etching, at a one day workshop held by Steve Dixon at Clink Printmaking in Woolwich. The scope for variation at seemingly every stage of the process is probably my favourite thing about etching, the balance of both organic extension of drawing and mechanical process lends itself to lots of opportunity for happy unanticipated surprises.

Etching made from drawing of a gateway at Tyninghame, the promise of an open gate leading to places unknown is always intriguing to me.

I really liked the physicality of mark making on the plate, between the urgency and ferocity of hard incised marks and more delicate drawn lines there's a contrast that is irresistible, and the opportunity for tonal variance with aquatint and masking leads to endless possibilities with images. One day was certainly not enough and I'll look forward to making more prints this way in the months ahead.