Nikki and I met at the studio for a fast test run. She got to try out her lesson plan, and I got to try the process. To my delight, vitreography was fast, non-toxic, and easy to learn! I don’t mean “easy” in the way that my first print was a masterpiece, but vitreography was far more beginner friendly for me than drypoint, woodcuts, and traditional etching. It was easier to see what I was doing, and since I was able to apply the etching paste with a soft brush, I felt more comfortable with the types of marks I was able to make.
The first test plate: the dremel tool
It was easy to make marks in my thick glass plate using a diamond tipped scribe, and a dremel tool. For the dremel, Nikki had me submerge the plate in water so I didn’t send glass dust into the air. I made a few random experimental marks with the dremel, just to see what stuff would like like.
[caption id=”attachment_13939″ align=”aligncenter” width=”600 Wet plate from water bath, after dremel marks
etching paste applied to some areas
After being so worried I wouldn’t wait long enough for the paste to etch the glass, turns out I waited too long. It only needed 2 minutes!
[caption id=”attachment_13944″ align=”aligncenter” width=”600 First etching print experiment, with cheap paper
The first print ended up being too dark, but I liked the stippled grey and felt confident I could make a better plate without much effort. I loved the brush strokes on the vase.
[image_with_animation image_url=”8323″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Photo from apartycrasher.biz/pages/baglady.html Every day I watch students waddle in, and waddle out of class, overloaded with heavy bags full of painting supplies. Brushes, paint tubes, mediums, containers, paper towels, canvases…. It’s a lot to carry! And how many times have you gotten all the way to the studio …
[image_with_animation image_url=”6263″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Richard Tuttle Richard Tuttle is an American known for his small, odd, subtle, and intimate works. Sometimes, his art incites the viewer to decide what distinguishes art from trash. See “untitled” drawing above, and the gem below. Tuttle was a very close friend of minimalist painter Agnes Martin. ” …
[image_with_animation image_url=”8555″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Yesterday I talked about Joseph Cornell, and how he didn’t consider himself an artist, but felt he was a collector, and a maker of things. I like to think sometimes I make things. Contrary to my website, I avoid calling myself an artist. Doing so can be validating, but …
Vitreography test prints
Nikki and I met at the studio for a fast test run. She got to try out her lesson plan, and I got to try the process. To my delight, vitreography was fast, non-toxic, and easy to learn! I don’t mean “easy” in the way that my first print was a masterpiece, but vitreography was far more beginner friendly for me than drypoint, woodcuts, and traditional etching. It was easier to see what I was doing, and since I was able to apply the etching paste with a soft brush, I felt more comfortable with the types of marks I was able to make.
The first test plate: the dremel tool
It was easy to make marks in my thick glass plate using a diamond tipped scribe, and a dremel tool. For the dremel, Nikki had me submerge the plate in water so I didn’t send glass dust into the air. I made a few random experimental marks with the dremel, just to see what stuff would like like.
[caption id=”attachment_13939″ align=”aligncenter” width=”600
Wet plate from water bath, after dremel marks
etching paste applied to some areas
After being so worried I wouldn’t wait long enough for the paste to etch the glass, turns out I waited too long. It only needed 2 minutes!
[caption id=”attachment_13944″ align=”aligncenter” width=”600
First etching print experiment, with cheap paper
The first print ended up being too dark, but I liked the stippled grey and felt confident I could make a better plate without much effort. I loved the brush strokes on the vase.
Etching ghost print, with tiny areas of drypoint
I’m going to like Vitreography. We start Tuesday!
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