Time for an etching update!
After completing the Shamisen edition I've been drawing and grounding plates and working on other projects. It's the kind of work that is totally unsatisfying because it's all of the in-between busy work in order to do the stuff you really want to do. Of course, it's necessary--and the process alone is enjoyable. It just can't compare to the feeling of results.
I started the Science plate by doing a simple line etch to get it to a 'coloring book' state. Then I made a rig and soft-grounded the plate. Registering the paper sketch to line up with the line-etched plate underneath was a bit of a headache, but an important one. I used a ballpoint pen, since it has given me a nice range in the past.
Put it in the acid for 20 minutes and came out with a really amazing looking piece of zinc.
Inked and printed two. One on proof paper, one on nice paper and the value was consistent.Below is the original line etch from state #1... with state #2 beside it. Easily the hugest single leap I have made between states. I wanted high contrast. I wanted black, since all of my previous plates have been weak in that regard. I got both. It's a little messy still. A few things to scrape and burnish and touch-up. But frankly, I'm ecstatic.
It's definitely a print meant to be seen closely. From a distance, it is bold, but largely indecipherable. I'm totally cool with that. After I make those few tweaks I want to experiment with mixing some inks. I might try some greys or blues... or what I REALLY want to try, which is a blue to green gradient from top to bottom. Anyway, really pleased and excited to have an almost finished plate in two states. I am officially a soft-ground fangirl.I also have a 9x9 inch zinc plate that I'm building up with soft-ground and abstract layers of ground. My Prof wanted me to do something really free and different. I'm at three layers so far. I'll etch in a layer or two more and then finally clean and print the thing. That one will be like unwrapping a present. I have absolutely no idea what it looks like.
Still pushing through a bunch of projects. Unfortunately, I started having finger problems just in the last week. One spot on my index finger again... the place where it has recurred the most. I have been vigilant about taping my fingers and wearing gloves and being careful. So, I think that officially rules out the previous possibilities of a latex or metal allergy.
So, just trying to breathe, stay positive about it... and deal.
The HTML/CSS class has helped me feel better about it actually. Learning a ton. I'm still at a very basic level, but compared to what I could do a few months ago.... yeah, no comparison.
Excited to print that abstract next week. Monday hopefully. And play with coloring For Science!
For the helluvit, here is my current assignment. We've just learned the box model and div elements. This is the first time I haven't gotten my CSS to validate. It's an issue with the two background images and I'm still trying to resolve it. Apple pie sounds so good right now.
Riiiiiiiiighhht. Okay!
Peace.
