Monday, March 23, 2009

Scratching Dermott


Drypoint Etching - Dermott with his Begging Bowl

Copper is rather expensive so I decided to try a piece of zinc for a drypoint etching. I didn't polish the plate sufficiently so when I printed, where I wanted bright white, I ended up with soft gray. After pulling the above proof, I decided to repolish the plate and rework the drypoint.

The second result was even more disappointing. Now I'm waiting for my new diamond-point etching needle to arrive from England and I'll have one more try. If that doesn't work, I'm going to leave all future scratching to Dermott!

23 comments:

Jennifer Rose said...

I've always wanted to try etching on a metal plate. Used plexiglass before to etch but metal was too much money. I think the grey looks good actually. gives it an old school type of feeling.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...what did you use, Robyn, if you don't have an etching needle? I have various pointy things, but all makeshift. My hand is the problem!

Dermott said...

Let the empty food bowl be the undeniable evidence - the smoking gun, if you will - proving, once and for all, that the bludgers don't feed me!

Oh, and there's also the small matter of Moral Rights. I am me, my image is me, mine, mine alone, and can't be appropriated for scratching on bits of metal or even printing on tea towels. Expect to hear from my lawyer, Mr Lionel Hutz.

vivien said...

:>)


it's workable-into though - could make a nice series of editions unique?

and I find copper is infinitely better for drypoint - it's softer and easier to work and has a lovely burr to the lines when you print.


You are making me very envious of all this printmaking you realise!

Felicity Grace said...

Is it just me? I think this is wonderful! I'm eagerly awaiting the 'successful' version now!

Jennifer Rose said...

but think of all the food you could buy if your image sells

Dermott said...

Jennifer, she has appropriated my image for her own nefarious means. What on earth makes you think she's going to share the ill-gotten proceeds with me? How much does La Gioconda make out of herself plastered across every second tea towel in every third kitchen?

I rest my boofy case.

Martha said...

I really like the gray too. Poor Dermott, he looks as underfed as my girl who eats 4 times a day! Small meals though.

Jennifer Rose said...

point taken ;) just fart for revenge like my dog use to do :p

Robyn Sinclair said...

Jennifer - As I type, Dermott is sitting behind me following up on your suggestion!

belindadelpesco.com said...

Robyn, I think it looks wonderful. My experience with tools so far is that a twisted scribe works better at kicking up a burr than a diamond point. The scribe can be used at a 45 degree angle, which is crucial in a dry point. The diamond tip works best at a higher angle, which gouges a symmetrically incised valley. The scribe - when held at a lower angle, plows a tiny fold of metal along one edge of the groove. It's hard to explain, but I get better variation on the line work when I use copper and plexi with a whistler's needle (scribe). Keep going. It's all good. :o)

Joan said...

I like the grey tones. It gives this a nice softness!!! I don't see Dermott complaining either!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Belinda - Thank you so much. I know exactly what you mean by the burr that forms on one side of the groove, I did manage to get it once on a small practise piece of copper.

Someone recommended the diamond point and, of course, now I'm think maybe he recommended it for hard ground etching. This is part of the problem I have, having to shop on line and not being able to have a conversation, in English, at a local art store. I will now go hunting a whistler's needle. What a shame you don't live nearby ;) When you said you were using a twisted scribe for your Tiny Dancer I thought you meant the tool that has a candy twist throughout its length.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Vivien - I now know I prefer copper and if it means going without perfume or Parmesan, I'm going to buy copper in future ;)

Felicity - Thank you. I actually think I've made this look a bit better than it is in adjusting the levels to post.

Dinah - As I said in my email, I did have an etching needle but it was too fine for the job. Now I want what Belinda has.

Jennifer & Martha - Thank you but I think Dermott has had quite enough encouragement. ;)

janie said...

This is wonderful, I love the quiet dignity of Dermot's disgrunltedness!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Joan - thank you. Dermott fancies himself as the strong, silent type.

Janie - Quiet dignity?! Dermott?! But thank you anyway. :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, Belinda is right.If you can get copper plates, they are a little easier. (I also like copper for etching with ferric chloride, but that takes longer and is not really for home use !)
Your man seems a handy sort of chap (able to knock up a jig) so maybe he could do clever things with a nail-in-an-old-Biro?

caseytoussaint said...

Well, I like it! I have no advice about copper plates at all, as I wouldn't know one from a paintbrush, but I think he projects a long-suffering patience and, yes, a certain quiet dignity.
As Martha pointed out, he's obviously underfed.

Dermott said...

Thank you, casey, for realising the plight of a Boofhead quietly fading away to nothing. He said, wilfully overlooking the irony!

Dermott said...

janie - quiet dignity? It's called so weakened from hunger that I can barely move a muscle.

Anonymous said...

I always do drypoint on plastic. Thicker than acetate but a lot thinner than perspex. Available from Reverse Garbage from time to time. I mostly don't do drypoints though because they make my hand drop off.

Anonymous said...

BTW I have an electric toolset for making various marks. I think it might be like a Dremel tool, but it was very cheap from Bunnings and has about 50 different heads.
Helpful with the Sydney shopping hints, aren't I (I don't think).

And poor Dermott. I'm on the phone to the RSPCA.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Wendy - Waving Bunnings under my nose is not kind! I've never tried etching plastic or plexiglass. I'm hoping the diamond scribe is going to make the process easier - then again, etching may not be for me. Now I must go and look up Reverse Garbage and probably eat my heart out about that too!

A friend has just returned to Sydney from here and keeps telling me about the seafood she is eating. Grrrr.

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