Contemporary Botanical Aquatint Etchings

The etching process dates from the 16th century, and no photographic aids are used. The artist draws through a resin resist (which is impervious to acid) on to a copper plate with an etching needle. The plate is then immersed in ferric chloride acid so that it is etched along the needle lines. This etched linear drawing provides the foundation for all plates.The five other stages in the making or the plate involve aquatint, spit-bite aquatint, soft ground, oil of spike lavender and sugar lift, in varying degrees. Final highlights are then achieved by burnishing back into the surface of the plate exposing the linear structure of the image. The plates are then inked in four to seven colours in the French "one-Plate" method (a la poupee) and hand printed on acid-free paper in an intaglio press. Hand finishing in watercolour is completed once the print is dry.

The series has been printed on 300 gsm Somerset TP and each edition is strictly limited, signed and numbered by the artist.

More information including size and cost of the print can be obtained by clicking on the thumbnail.
All Prints displayed are © SMS Editions Ltd