Saraswati progression

[Palmer Eldritch]

lately in class we've been learning how to do copper engraving print making. I totally forgot about the project until the night before it was due so I sat down for 6 hours straight and did an engraving.

since i didn't want to spend time making a new image, I adapted an old piece of artwork. This may have been posted a few years ago. Its probably as finished as I'm going to be with it as a digital image. This was my reference:


After converting it to black & white and printing it out, I transfered it onto the copper using a grease pencil. I have a stereo-optic 45x microscope at home that I use for my laboratory job that I fitted with a felt pad. I put my 4"x6" plate under the lenses and went to work. I left out some of the line work just because I was too tired to make clean cuts. At 3am I had this as a result:


its a little hard to see I know. engravings don't scan well because the incision is the same angle on both sides of the cut unlike ornamental engraving. Anyway, I finished up my series of 8 prints today and this was an average quality one.


I also did my first copper acid etching today. Didn't turn out quite as well. I think I'll stick to engraving.

[Highbinder]

That is very cool, I'm totally digging that design. +Rep, dude. Loving the engraving too. Have you tried engraving with, whats it called.. wax on the metal and then acid to get the depth. Or is that termed etching?

Anyway nevermind, its damn sweet

[CosmicSerpent]

Very nice man... I've been wanting to take Printmaking but the class always fills up really fast at my school so it's hard to get into. I think I'll be able to take it next fall though... I'm definitely looking forward to it. I really like your digital images a lot... their style sort of reminds me of the movie A Scanner Darkly. They also remind me of my own painting style.. I'm a Studio Art major concentrating in painting. What I really wish I was doing is Graphic Design though. Unfortunately this was the only school I could get accepted to and they don't have a program.

[Palmer Eldritch]

thanks highbinder. yeah the process you described is etching. The only thing I've done with that method is test biting stage timings. The design I created would have been fine with a two to five minute bite, but the project had us go up to 30 minutes which completely ate away that portion of the design. I think I'll like engraving more since all the work is manual opposed to chemical and if you are careful you'll know exactly how the image will come out.

Make sure you can get into that class CosmicSerpent, its by far the most enjoyable class I've had so far at this school. thanks for the compliments on the digital work, Linklater completely ripped my style with Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly I hope you can get into a graphic design program somewhere. If thats what you think you want to do, definitely look around for another school to transfer to once you get a good portfolio and credit under your belt. I had no trouble getting into the animation program as a freshman when attending the art institute in pittsburgh, but transfer students almost always got in.

[Jah_Zarathustra]

Palmer, great work! I really enjoy your threads...

[Palmer Eldritch]

thank jah at least you do

[Ripple]

Nicely done partna'. I just finished a printmaking class last semester that I thoroughly enjoyed. Copper plates were mad fun and easy to etch. I'm trying to think of more positive feedback but this chronic buzz is preventning anything so before I blow it too bad we'll just stick with a good job. haha

[Palmer Eldritch]

thanks ripple, you've got any of your prints to share?