Week Three - #2

Next, I started thinking about printmaking because I have studied it in the past and I love the process behind it. Sticking to the theme of making this piece look like it’s from hundreds of years ago and considering the mythical subject matter, I really couldn’t shake the urge to make this piece using the etching process. I have always been drawn to etches in history books because they utilize both a drawing element and a more formal printed element. I love the historical tradition of running a sheet of inked up metal through a printing press and creating multiple copies of my art. I am also drawn to producing an etched piece because it is a new process to me, and I wonder if I will ever have the materials, studios, and machines to do it again.

My first concern that I started to investigate during process week was that I might not have the time and skill to make an etching design by hand this semester. I studied digital printmaking in the past and knew about laser printers that could print on acrylic vinyl and become a template for a print. I wondered if I could repeat this process of digitally creating my sketch and laser print it on to metal.

First, I called the printmaking studio to make sure I could potentially run a sheet of metal through their press. The technician said that would work and that I would technically be the first student to try that. Next, I visited the Hunter building and spoke to the technician of all the laser cutters to see if there was a laser cutter capable of digitally etching metal. Fortunately, the school has just recently acquired a printer with that exact capability. I was very excited, and we went over all of the details agreeing that I would come back and run some tests on sample pieces of metal while I wait for an available intaglio printmaking induction.