THE TECHNIQUE OF ETCHING

My etchings are created on copper plates whose lines and tones are etched in baths of strong acid through coverings of etching ground, a paint-like substance. I use an etching needle to slightly draw lines through the etching ground. When the needle drawing is completed, the entire plate is immersed in the acid bath for a few hours to etch the lines.
The plate is cleaned to prepare for aquatints. Areas of the plate are blocked out with an acid-resist and then misted. In the misted areas, the action of the acid creates tones. With lines and tonal areas from the aquatint, an image in depth can be created. A complex plate may take weeks or months to complete.
The finished plate is covered with ink. The plate is then carefully wiped, gradually removing ink until only the essential ink remains. Great care is taken to leave as much moist ink on the plate as possible.
On the flat bed of an etching press, moist printing paper is laid over the freshly inked plate.
The high pressure of the press acts to squeeze the ink onto the paper, embossing the image in reverse. Because each print is hand-printed, no two are alike, making each one an original. When the full edition of of the etchings is printed, the plate is cancelled so that no further impressions can be made. This technique of etching has changed very little in 500 years.

Close-up detail of the etching "I'll Fly Away"