Electro Etching Masterclass

Electro Etching Masterclass

Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd August10am til 4pmTutor: NickLocation: Incubate Printmaking, Cobalt Studios, 10-16 Boyd Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 1AP

Learn an eco friendly, modern way to etch zinc using electricity

Electro etching is a form of intaglio which has similar results to the more commonly used forms of acid etching. Instead of using a corrosive liquid, an electrolyte is used, in this case, zinc sulphate for etching zinc. A small electrical current is conducted through the plate, around one volt, which ignites the etching process.

Some of the most notable advantages of this method over acid etching, include being able to control the strength of the etch with a turn of the dial. Also, no toxic fumes are produced, and the solution does not tire, meaning it does not need to be discarded. The nature of the process makes it accessible for those who wish to print at home or in an artist studio.

In this workshop, you will be shown how to prepare a zinc plate for etching. Once the wax ground has been applied, it can be drawn into, and a range of marks can be made using different tools to produce a range of effects. Once the plate has been etched and the ground removed, it is then inked up by hand using water based ink, and printed using an etching press. You will be able to work from source imagery, transfer an image to the plate which can be worked into, or improvise an artwork as you go. You will be able to take the prints away at the end of the session or leave to dry for a few days before collection.

The second part of this two day workshop will also introduce ways to etch metal to create deep, interesting reliefs, using the electro etching method. We will be using vinyl, varnish and other drawing materials to create effective textures in zinc.

The plates can also be printed onto paper using an etching press, or even just kept as beautiful objects. These plates can be printed as relief plates, like a lino, or intaglio etchings.

We will also explore the unique characteristics of the myseterious 'graphite ground' technique, which provides gestural marks and delicate lines in prints.