Portfolio
Botanicals
Nasturtium
A4 Intaglio print. Aluminium plate etched with copper sulphate mordant. NFS
Loofah FLower
A4 Intaglio print. Aluminium plate etched with copper sulphate mordant. NFS
Gourd Flower
A4 Intaglio print. Aluminium plate etched with copper sulphate mordant. NFS
Tumeric
A4 Intaglio print. Aluminium plate etched with copper sulphate mordant. NFS
Plates
Turmeric Plate
Aluminium plate, soft ground application, image transferred, etched with copper sulphate mordant, full-strength solution etched for five minutes. No Aquatint. NFS
Nasturtium Plate
Aluminium plate, soft ground application, image transferred, etched with copper sulphate mordant, partial strength solution etched for five minutes. Flowers and leaves painted with shellac stop out, etched for a further five. NFS
Experiments
Baby Bees
Reaching way past my skill level to attempt a complex line, multiple aquatint print. Turned out better than expected. Next try would be better to use more shellac stop out to keep the bee larvae smooth from the first etch. NFS
Ash Gourd Aquatint
Boronia Leaf
Leaf imprint, run through the press at 3.5 pressure to be embossed onto a foam board. Test to see if the plate could produce an intaglio print. Could only produce one print before the plate was unusable. NFS
Ash Gourd Aquatint Water Colour
Soft ground application. Testing plate tone and water colour. NFS
Artist Statement
PetalsM
13.08.2024
I often refer to myself as having an artistic temperament without the talent. However over time I’ve found the more I practice the technique and experiment with the media, I’m developing my talent to match my artistic disposition.
For my assessments, I produced a collection of botanical imagery to push the boundaries of my skill. This was important to me as a student to stretch my ability and knowledge to become a competent printmaker. The media, using aluminium plates using copper sulphate mordant, is a technique applied by only a handful of printmakers across the world.
A lot of experimentation was applied throughout diploma. Tests on mordant concentration, plate etch timing for line and aquatint, and variables of used mordant were all conducted to increase knowledge of producing a plate capable of creating a decent print.
Previous plates produced have been 2D in nature. The idea of the botanical series was to see if the media could be used to create depth of field. I believe that has been achieved somewhat but could be experimented with further.