Wednesday, September 19, 2007

vineyard


etching, image size 11.3 x 10.4 cm, 1999

The copper plate for this print had been deeply etched, in which it was left in the acid bath for hours and hours. So long that the area where the copper had been exposed to the acid got quite eaten away, creating a sort of a crater-like surface that held a lot of ink when the plate was inked up to be printed.



I was really happy at how much ink was able to get transferred onto the paper when it was printed. It does not show too well in these images, but on the actual print, it has quite a 3-D effect, like that of a small relief painting. I want to explore more of these effects with etching when i get my new press. Want to also continue breaking out of the perfectly squared/straight edges of the plate/canvas.


10 comments

  1. Mien, are you counting the days until your new printing press arrives? You do such interesting and varied work with printing techniques (or for that matter with any medium you choose). I am quite shattered by the power of this one, want to put my fingertips on the plate that you’ve attacked so violently, touch its wounds. There’s such fire here, such energy. Destruction and growth, destruction and creation. If it’s a vineyard it’s an ancient one, vines with gnarled stem and branches, scorched by the sun, dry, brittle. And then the contrast to the subtleness of the other images, the ghostlike and tenderly rendered orange-slice and the spoon-mountain which seems just about to materialise from another world.
    Anyway, just a quick if tired hallo to you. My mom has been visiting and I’ve introduced her to the world of blogging. She got into the spirit of things - when she rang today she asked if I’d had any new messages!

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  2. oh I see!
    when I saw the image on flickr I couldn't quite understand why the etching seemed to be so 3D ... now I know why :)
    I quite like the effect it reminds of ceramics, specially raku details

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  3. I have a plate like that too! The ink has a velvety look to it on paper and wiping it with tarlatan is interesting as it tends to snag. If you go back to this posting:
    http://pmondoy.blogspot.com/2007/07/iiwi-image-revisited.html
    you'll the progression. The last one is the deeply etched plate. When you have different levels of etch like this, you could actually do a viscosity print where you have different colors in the different recesses of the plate. I didn't do a viscosity roll up on this plate; just the a la poupee technique.

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  4. Please, can I re-say what Marjojo said about your awesome vineyard. It's exactly what I did feel but those beautiful English words didn't pop to my mind :).
    I love watching your experiments!

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  5. wow, that's an amazing effect you've created there: it's so chunky and impasto! I'd love to see it in person.
    And breaking down the square format: i'm looking forward to your experiments there :)

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  6. Cool, and I like that you want to use a non-rectangular, straight-edged shape! I wanna c.

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  7. Marjojo, how did you know? :). yes, trying to warm up mentally before the etching press arrives. i am thrilled by your response to this piece. also quite timely as right now, i often feel like i have to break/take things apart (deconstruct?) in order to know how to create/recreate. very awkward at times and can be very frustrating too. :\.
    hey so cool that your mom is getting into your blog world. :).

    oooh yes...raku. didn't think of it until you mentioned it, Paula. love the unpredictability of both raku and etching.

    Paula (AluapPaula), i love it when the ink gets velvety and i could totally see that in your final image. btw, here is Paula's link in case anyone is also curious, since it seems to have gotten cut off at the end (...iiwi-image-revisited.html):
    http://pmondoy.blogspot.com/2007/07/iiwi-image-revisited.html

    Uschi, so glad you also have the same reaction to this piece. funny when you put up your post showing the view of the vineyards, i was already thinking to post this print up, too.

    thanks, Carson. i hope some finished works will come out of the experimenting. these days, it seems like i just keep adding to my pile of unfinished works.

    hey Grace, come visit me when my press comes. it'll be like a double treat for me. :).

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  8. :) :) :) about your comments on my blog! How can it be that internet messages can have such impact? Well they do, so thanks and :).
    And when I write passionately about your work it's because that's what it immediately inspires in me. That's what makes art so exciting, when it's good it can evoke such a plethora of reactions, from the universal to the personal, head or gut, mental or emotional. To be touched on all these levels is probably best.
    Getting too tired now although I wanted to say something too about destruction and creativity - need for/frustration about, will have to wait, but I'm looking forward to seeing more.
    Never quite sure where to post answers to people's comments - on their or my blog - you'll find mine on mine.

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  9. I would lalalalooove to!! As u know, the end of this year'll be busy for me. What about possibly in Jan?

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  10. This third picture of your etching is really interresting. I enjoy when I believe I clearly "see what it is" but when I take a second, closer look I notice that I don´t at all.

    Sorry Miem, I am not very good with words all I can say is that your art gives me a very good feeling!

    Thanks for linking to me! I have gladly linked back to you as well.

    A hug from Olga in Sweden at 10.30 PM.

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