Copper-plate etching is an intaglio process, where ferric chloride is used to “eat away” at exposed portions of the copper plate to create lines and shades of gray when filled with ink and printed. Etching is the oldest form of printmaking and was originally used to decorate armor.
Shared Spaces, 6″ x 9″ 2024, Etching
My first etching, this process is only a traditional line etching, using the stage-biting technique to create lines of different depths and therefore shades of gray. Through hatching and cross-hatching as well as directional line, the etching depicts the kitchen of the apartment I had just moved into.
Chicken Tree, 9″ x 12″ 2024, Aquatint etching
This was the first time I used the aquatint technique, which uses powdered rosin that is melted onto the surface of the copper plate to allow for shades of gray over defined areas. In some areas of the print there are white “smudges” which come from the rosin accidentally being moved before fully melted, leading to un-etched areas.
Escape, 9″ x 12″ 2025, Aquatint etching
Inspired my recurring dreams that include mazes, endless hallways, and dead-ends, this piece captures a sense of what I see in a dream-scape.
2025, 9″ x 12″ 2025, Aquatint etching
For this project, we added another technique, soft ground etching, allowing for textures to be pressed into the ground and etched into the plate. In this piece, I used tinfoil, a mesh loofah, dried grasses and string to add select areas of texture to the work.
A Moment in Time, 9″ x 12″ 2025, Aquatint etching
Adding three more techniques, this project included marbling, chine colle, and a la poupee, adding a visual texture, paper patterns, and the colors, respectively. For this project, I wanted to capture some of my favorite moments, those spent with my friends. Each print in this edition is unique as the applied chine colle technique allowed me to use various printed papers on select areas such as the posters and the blankets.
A Trip to be Remembered, 9″ x 12″ 2025 Aquatint etching
For this project I wanted to recall my trip to Italy and Greece in 2023 after I graduated high-school. The same techniques were used, but the marbling was much more successful, as it is prominent in the column and dated stone. Each print in this edition has a different style map of the area, and different design on the grecian pot.