Freeze and Thaw: Failure and Success

2012, Drypoint of Moses in the Rock, 4 1/2″ x 6″.  Unlike an engraving which captures the ink in incised lines, the drypoint image is made by scratching the copper with a stylus, which raises a bur, trapping the ink on the surface of the plate.  This produces a “softer” or “fuzzier” line than the crisp and precise engraved line.  This also makes deeper tones possible, which I wanted for this image.  I am not sure that I have not failed in my attempt.  Yet I am not disappointed.  Failure is the plough.

Fire and Gravel.  2012, Engraving of Waking Man drawing a comet, 3″ x 4 1/2″.  The difference in line quality is readily observed in this engraved image.

A slightly earlier state of the Moses drypoint.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Slideshow of  images from the printing process.

Building Layers

Building layers onto the upper half panel of Walking Man and the Ancient Ocean.  Here, the clouds, sky, middle and far landscapes, and the cliff have all been recipients of a second layer on top of the underpainting.  Below are two details, and the panel in two  previous states.

  

underpainting and drawing