Aluminum Etching - Roof Top Dreams

Wonderful day in the studio, I etched two copper etchings, worked on a design for a polyester lithography plate and printed a few of this fun aluminum etching.

I love to edition playing with possibilities.  The prints above are my favorites out of the five I printed. The plate is 21 x 5.5 inches. Below is a photo before it was etched.

Happy Soon to be Spring Hope/Dreams

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A little Success

A little success in my experimenting with Graphic Chemical W/S 1459.  Yes, it does work as a hard ground, however it dries on your roller really fast.  So just because I had some in my studio I tried adding 2 parts Graphic Chemical W/S 1459 and 1 part Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid.  The Golden medium is a slow drying acrylic medium.  It works great when you heat set your plates with a hair dryer.  But if you leave it overnight to dry (with 4 or 5 rolls of ink) and the plate feels bone dry.  It does not hold up in the etching bath.  One layer works great as an aquatint left over night.
Small sample plates set with heat with a good 4 or 5 rolls of ink does hold up in the etching bath

The above plate has 1 roll on it and was in the Edinburgh etch for two hours. The one roll on the plate was not heat set, and was left to dry overnight.

My sample plates with the golden added to the Graphic Chemical W/S 1459 worked really well when heat set.  I would love to hear from anyone else working with Graphic Chemical W/S 1459 as a hard ground. 

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First Day Printing in the Print Studio

Today was my first day printing in the "Ottawa/Gatineau Printmakers Connective Print Studio".   It was grand being able to play on a large sheet of paper.  It felt really good.

The Print Studio is in Bells Corners in the Nepean Creative Arts Centre.  There are 21 artists sharing the studio and we are all working in non-toxic printmaking.

 It is so good working on a large sheet of paper again. 

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It Works, It Works!

OK, I was so excited last night when I took this out of the etching bath.  A good year ago I was told that Graphic Chemical W/B Block Print Black 1659 was dicontinued because the company could not get an ingredient to make it. They replaced it, however it aparently did not work as a hard ground anymore.  Good ordinary lesson in life again - check things out for yourself. 

Personally I have lots of ink left for my selfish use, but I really felt bad for others just starting to experiment with non-toxic etching.  I really love rolling on the ink for a hard ground.

So, I tried the sample tube that was sent to me  (Graphic Chemical W/B Block Print Black 1459).

And this is what happened.

In the evening I rolled ink on the plate and with marker I tryed to document what I had done.  I also scratched into the wet ink. I did hair dry the plate a bit, but it was late and I decided to just leave it over night to dry for sure.  Next day I had to go out, but before going I scratched into the ink again.  It was very dry to the touch.  In the evening I put the plate in the Edinburgh Etch for 2 hours.

 After rinsing with water, the ink was a good scrub to get off with soap and water. A little cheat tip, use Mr Clean.

The etched plate looks great for a first test plate!

I love this roll on Hard Ground.  It is such a wonderful printmaking medium and very cost friendly.  A can lasts for a long time (years) in a Print Studio.  I would love to hear from other Printmakers about the new Graphic Chemical W/B Block Print Black 1459 being used as a Hard Ground.

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Year of the Dragon

Happy New Year!  I took my flattened prints from between the boards today.  I am so glad I did this print in December before the family Christmas rush.  Printmakers around the world are getting together to show off their Dragons at Proof  Studio Gallery in Toronto. The deadline for the Ottawa Printmakers is this coming January 14.

I used ImagOn to make my plates, so the printmaking medium is Intaglio Type.  I first drew my Dragon and then played with it on the computer and printed a transparency of the drawing.  I created 6 different designs narrowed it down to two and this one won. I am calling my Dragon print; "Dragon Play".  I have 20 prints in this color and before the Ottawa Printmakers exchange & potluck evening; I hope to get 20 more done in another color.  I love Dragons and hope lots of printmakers want to trade with me.

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The Lookout on the Rooftop

A Very Merry Christmas Everyone!  I love this time of year, even if it is crazy busy.  And this year I left an important project to the last minute.  Below is my contribution to an amazing project City of the World puzzle print. Please check out the wonderful art on the  "MCPP Puzzle Prints Blog"

I am so happy this is in the mail before the new year. In the new year I want to do the image in copper.

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Blog Blast For Peace 2011

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Today is a special day for blogger's world wide.  I love taking part in Mimi's Blog Blast for Peace.

This year I did not do anything grand or special for the event.  Hopefully I am saving a great idea for next year.  Today I would like to share a special video from a few years ago. 

   The wonderful morning on the beach for Blog Blast For Peace

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It is such a great feeling loving and liking everyone!  So, ?Why do so many people not want to feel good?

Pray for Peace

The Ottawa Printmakers Anniversary Show

Exciting News!  The Ottawa-Gatineau Printmakers are having their first anniversary show.