Dry Point Etching

Etching has been around for nearly 500 years. It is a type of engraving, where ink is forced through tiny lines and grooves that have been applied to a copper plate (or in our case plastic). A wet piece of paper is laid onto the plate and forced through a roller, which then creates a print.

Originally etching was used to decorate armour in Medieval times. Decorated parts of the armour were filled in to give the designs a contrast.Etching is the print-making technique most closely associated with drawing.

This week you need to create at least a double page on one artist who has created etchings.

You can find your own Artist or use one on the Pinterest website:

http://pinterest.com/beaumontart/

The page should include

1.Good quality images of the Artist’s work

2.Facts and opinions about the Artist (Use the ‘How to write about Artists’ sheet for support)

3.A transcription of the Artist’s work.

Your first task…

What is Dry Point Etching …

Dry point etching is the modern equivalent to etching. It is called dry point because you create your image by scratching into a surface with a dry needle.

How to create a Dry Point Etching…

1. Draw into your plastic with a sharp needle. This is called intaglio which means cutting, carving or engraving into a flat surface. You can use lots of different mark-making techniques with the needle to create different tones and textures.

2. You can create rubbings on your plastic from anything that has a raised surface. You create rubbings by using fine sandpaper.

3. You can cut out sections of your plastic to create white spaces and cut out your etchings and overlap them with other ones.

4. You can also stick brown tape and masking tape onto your etching to create interesting textures like the examples below…

5. When applying the etching ink it is recommended that you wear plastic gloves. First apply a thin layer of ink with a piece of cardboard. Drag it over your plastic.

6. Use a piece of fabric or tissue and push down and turn the ink. You want to make sure all your scratches are loaded with ink.

7. You can use newspaper or tissue paper to clean all ink off certain areas of your plastic.

8. Spray cartridge paper evenly with water on both sides. Use paper fingers to pick up your paper so your don’t get any ink on it.

9. Sandwich your plastic (ink side up) with your wet paper on top between newspaper and put through the printing press.

10. Place your finished etching between paper and something heavy to make sure it dries flat.