Muddy Bog - Aquatint authentic Etching

This is an original hand printed etching on cotton rag paper. This is from a photo I took of a bog in Florida with native and endangered pitcher plants. It is part of my "Botanicals" series of etchings. The etching image incorporates aquatint, soft ground, and line etching techniques. The printed image measures 5 X 8". It is printed with archival oil based inks. As this is a zinc plate etching, the print edition size is very limited to 25 prints. Each print is individually numbered and is hand signed by the artist in pencil. This print comes unframed and mounted on foam core or backing board. It is available in black currently, but I can print it in other colors if you want.

Etching Process. Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) into the metal. In traditional pure etching, a zinc plate is covered with a waxy or hard ground which is resistant to acid. A drawing is transferred onto the hardground, which I then scratch into the ground with a pointed etching needle to expose the bare metal. The plate is then dipped in a bath of nitric acid, which "bites" into the exposed metal, cutting lines into the plate. The remaining ground is then cleaned off the plate. The plate is then etched again to add texture or tonality. The plate is inked authentic all over, and then the excess ink is wiped off the surface, leaving only the ink in the etched lines. The plate is then put through a high-pressure printing press together with a sheet of dampened paper. The paper picks up the ink from the etched lines, making a print. This printing process is repeated until the edition is printed.