Intaglio Prints

Soft Ground Define Process A polished copper plate is heated and applied with asphaltum (like tar) with a roller to the top surface which is used for the drawing. The other side of the plate is covered with an adhesive plastic.

A candle is used to "smoke" the asphaltum on the plate so the line can be seen as I draw onto the plate. I use a steel etching needle to execute the drawing.

The next step is to place the plate in an acid bath that bites into the drawn lines of the copper.

The plate is removed from the bath of acid and cleaned. Ink, the consistency of honey, is pressed into the "etched" lines of the copper plate. The top surface is then wiped clean and placed on the bed of a roller press.

Moist print paper is put on top of the inked surface and covered with a 1/2" thick felt blanket.

The bed is rolled through the press under tremendous pressure, producing one image at a time, reapplying the ink each time until the desired number of prints are "pulled". After the prints are dried, the image is hand-painted in watercolor.