STEEL ETCHING WITH MASTER PRINTMAKER – OCT 2011
Received a grant from Cairns Regional Council & Arts Queensland, to conduct experiments with different surfaces which will become the basis for irregular shaped canvases. Metal was one of the choices, as this substance can be distressed using contemporary printmaking techniques and I was fortunate to have access to master printmaker.
After first trying aluminium – which proved to be unsatisfactory as the etching did not go deep enough for my desired outcome, we decided upon steel, which proved perfect, although the weight prevents its use for larger scale paintings. While rust naturally blooms on the etched surfaces this was promoted & controlled to enhance the overall effect. Unfortunately neither products will provide the surface I am looking for.
The next step is a plastic material used in the fibreglassing industry.
