Printmaking: Etching

Etching is a print process where a design is scratched into the surface of a metal plate which is then inked up and printed in a press.

Before this is done you de-grease the metal using detol and chalk, making sure to rinse this off and dry it after. The metal is placed on a hot place to heat the metal and then coated with a type of wax called ground. You can then scratch in your image [in reverse] using an etching needle/scriber. For mine, I did a zombie Barbie as it was relevant to the ideas I was having for our current uni project [which I will post about in the future]. When you're finished you put your plate in an acid bath for about 10 minutes.

After this then wash the plate in water. Whilst you're doing this you could soak the paper you wish to print on in water too since it needs to be damp to absorb the ink, so make sure you use a paper with a decent gsm! Ink up the plate using oil based ink and cut card, making sure to press the ink into the groves that you scratched in, then use scrim and tissue paper to remove excess ink.

The type of press used is a roller press. Take your soaked paper out the water and squeeze out the excess by using a rolling pin over the paper in between several other layers of paper. Then place your plate face up on a sheet of tissue paper on the press, then your prepared paper, another sheet of tissue paper and finally etching press blankets. Turn the wheel or handle to operate the press and then your print is done! Leave it to dry and repeat as many times as you like! Here are some photos of the prints I made during our induction session:

Skills Rotation: Plaster Moulds

In this two week workshop we were taught how to create plaster moulds to produce press moulded pieces from clay. Last time I produced a plaster mould was 3 years ago during GCSE when I produced latex prosthetic makeup wounds, so I was excited to repeat the process at a higher skill level. 

We were told to bring in an object that we wouldn't mind getting ruined, and all I could really find was an old barbie doll from when I planned on making my own prom dress. I decided to create a two piece mould as I'd only ever made a one piece mould before, and prepared the object for moulding by removing the clothing and I pulled her head off so the hair didn't get stuck in the clay. I rolled out a clay base, then built up walls half way up the doll's body and outer walls that were at least 1 inch above the highest point of the object. I ensured there was a pouring hole and no undercuts, as well as adding key holes so the second piece would lock together with the first. 

Next I mixed the plaster by sprinkling the powdered plaster into a bucket of water and mixing it with my hand - squeezing out any lumps and removing air bubbles. I poured this into my clay forma and left it to cure for at least 24 hours before de-moulding.

For the second piece I followed the same process, but before I could do this I had to clean the object, wall up undercuts and add 3 layers of a soft soap release agent as I was adding plaster to plaster. 

Finally I cleaned my two piece mould with a damp sponge and it was then ready for me to make a cast from the plaster. 

I really enjoyed this process and I would like to try including it in my other college projects. However, next time I need to keep in mind the few mistakes I made:

• I used the doll's neck as a pouring hole but and built the walls around the legs so when the cast was made the material I pour into the mould would go straight through, so I would need to fill these gaps with clay before casting.
• Do not mix the plaster to vigorously as it can add air bubbles and make the plaster set before it's poured it into the clay forma.