The bulk of my work is created using the lost art of intaglio printmaking. For those unfamiliar with this medium, intaglio is an Italian term meaning "below the surface." Basically it refers to anything printed from an incised image existing below the surface of a printing matrix as apposed to relief printing where the surface of the printing matrix gets printed such as in linoleum or woodblock printing. In my case I specialize in copperplate etching. An image is etched by submerging the plate into an acid bath or manually applying an acid solution by hand. The acid "bites" into any exposed surface area of the plate. Acid-resistant protective grounds are used to block areas of the plate not meant to be bitten. Linework is inscribed into the ground using a sharp-pointed instrument, exposing the copper beneath for etching. There are various methods of creating tonal or textural effects such as the aquatint method which is used in achieving varying degrees of tone. When a plate is ready for printing, oily ink is deposited into the incised lines and textures and the excess is wiped off. The plate is then run through a press which transfers the image to paper that has been dampened in order to soften the fibers, making the reception of ink easier. The result is an image that can be reproduced in multiples and progressively modified with additional work to the plate. And there you have it - the secret to intaglio printing revealed!
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