Etching Process

Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Diagrams, Prints

This is an image of one of my copper plates in the initial stages of the etching process. Although I’m supposed to keep my personal thoughts aside (thanks Sue!), this is one instance where I think the plate looks a whole lot better than the actual completed print. The black stuff coating the copper plate is highly toxic asphaltum that I have begun to scratch into revealing the shiny copper beneath. The shiny copper parts that are exposed will eventually be the areas that get etched, thus allowing ink to seep into those areas and print (as seen in the finished print).

Random Thought Pattern (Quadrant A), 8″ x 12″

Permalink | November 2nd, 2008

7 Responses to “Etching Process”

  1. Sue S. Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am

    Ok, I’m with you on this one Dave…That copper image does look amazing. Would you get a similar effect if you used a copper colored ink? Or is that the final image more a negative version of the copper one?

  2. David Mazure Says:
    November 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Sue: It would be difficult to get that same effect with copper ink on black paper. And yes, it is pretty much a negative of the printed version, the black parts on the copper becoming the white spaces in the print and vice versa.

  3. Kyra Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    The copper plates is a piece of art on its own. I want to hang it up.

  4. David Mazure Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Kyra: I agree, but unfortunately the plate no longer looks like that . . .and the black asphaltum that it is covered with has very toxic fumes — not something for the house!

  5. Rutvik Patel Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    I’ve followed your work for a long time and I’m a huge fan. I’m excited to see the new mediums your working with. I agree with Kyra, the plate alone is beautiful. Is there a way to recreate that look without being toxic?

  6. Kyra Says:
    November 6th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Why is everyone so down on toxins? Geez!

  7. David Mazure Says:
    November 17th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    Ruvik: Thanks for the kind words! As for recreating it, I think it may be possible to use a shiny black acrylic paint instead of the toxic asphaltum, but the copper underneath is quite expensive these days! But, if you’re offering to fund the project, I’m game!

    Kyra: Jersey Sarcasm, huh? Didn’t Benjamin Franklin say that that is the lowest form of humor?

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