Multi-tonal aquatint, and a riddle

 Remember the Aquatint self-portrait? Here I use a similar method to create a multi-tonal zinc plate, with black, white, and three shades of grey. For funsies, I included a riddle to go with the print- see if you can work it out! 

Conclusion to Adventures with Giorgio Morandi

Last week I shared a quick study on the printmaker/painter Giorgio Morandi. Since then, it's been something of a crosshatching party, culminating in yet another acid etched plate. This time we used a combination of drypoint and acid etching, using hard ground as a resist.

 

 (The only time I have to draw is when I'm hanging out in the lab, waiting for assays to run. Hence, the subject matter)

Methodology after the cut

Giorgio Morandi study- an adventure in crosshatching across disciplines

Giorgio Morandi  was an early 20th century printmaker, and I had never heard of him before last Thursday. However, we were assigned to check out some of his drypoint still life etchings, copy one, and follow up with a still life of our own.

This post contains something of a personal adventure for me, as I (eh heh he) cross-hatch some preconceptions, and learn a bit about the art of laboratory work.

Drypoint commemorative stamp

Our second assignment was to design a commemorative stamp, 2"x3", and scratch it onto a small zinc plate using the drypoint technique. I pondered designs for Sugar Pie Desanto and Etta James, Mia Zapata, even Fred Astair. In the end though, I ended up with a sketchbook page full of Tank Girl fanart... Thus, I give you a commemorative stamp of tank girl (though I don't think the USPS will accept it...).

Wherein I complain about engraving Additional comments behind the jump

Aquatint self-portrait print

...So I failed in my original plan to create more artwork on my own time. However, perhaps I'm not beyond hope- I started taking an Intaglio (in-TAL-lee-oh) printmaking class, and now I can justify spending time on art. Pardon me while I click my heels in joy!

Enough excuses. Here's a two-tone aquatint self-portrait pulled off an acid-etched zinc plate. Methods, progress shots, and rambling behind the jump,  in case you wanna learn about how this was made.

4"x 5"