Goat III, Sepia Etching

Description

This is a soft ground etching (with a bit of dry point)depicting an African goat that I met down by the River Yarra in Collingwood Childrens' Farm near my old house.

The image measures 6 cm x 6cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches)
The paper measures 18 x 18cm (7 x 7 inches)

Originally I sketched the goats this time last year, see my blog for some of the original sketches http://bridbird.blogspot.com/2008/04/loose-goats.html
and
http://bridbird.blogspot.com/2008/03/goats-and-sheep.html

The process invloved in etching is a very old. To make the plates a waxy ground is melted onto the surface of the copper, then, using a needle you draw into the ground. The plate is then put into acid, the acid eats away the areas you have exposed by drawing with the needle. Then clean off the ground and file the edges of the plate making them smooth (if you don't do this it can damage the paper and the felt blankets that you place on top as you roll it through the press)

You then need to ink up the plates. Smooth some thick sticky printmaking ink onto the plate, rub it in with cloth, then rub back the desired amount. Then place the plate on the print bed, the dampened paper on top and the felt blankets. Roll through the press. For each subsequent print you need to repeat the inking up process.

I have added photos to this description in yet another blog page http://bridbird.blogspot.com/2008/02/yesterday-was-my-first-day-back-at.html

The etching is unframed and unmounted (unmatted) but wrapped up very carefully with protective board and tied with ribbon to make it pretty!

It is one in an edition of only 10.

Please note colour may vary depending on your computer screen. Actual colour is a soft brown/ sepia.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Added on Dec 22, 2009