Dry Point

Dry Point Etching Step by Step

Equipment

Etching Needle, “Plate” (0.5mm thick plastic sheet), Flat bed roller press, Image to copy, Scrim, Rag, Rubber Gloves, Ink, White Spirit, Clean Towels, Newsprint & Paper to print onto (>250gsm).

Process

Let us assume that you have already etched your plate.

1.    The paper that you are going to print onto needs to be soaked in water for at least 10 minutes so make sure this is done first.

2.    Make sure you have rolled up your sleeves and got an apron on, this ink will not wash out of your clothes and takes ages to get off your skin.

3.    Put a couple of sheets of newsprint on the desk to protect it from the ink too.

4.    Make a pad with the scrim and dip it into the ink.

5.    Using circular movements cover the whole plate. Make sure you do this for at least 5 minutes ensuring that the ink works its way into all of the grooves.

6.    With the rag remove excess ink from the plate using circular movements.

7.    Remove the paper from the water and blot excess water with clean towels.

8.    Place the plate face up on the felt bed of the press.

9.    Place the paper on top of the plate and cover it with some newsprint.

10.                       Fold back the felt so that it covers the paper.

11.                       Pass the plate forwards and backwards through the press.

12.                       Fold the felt back and carefully remove your print.

Great website

Take a look at what Betty Edwards has got too say. There are loads of before and after self portraits in the gallery section showing how much of a great teacher she is!

http://www.drawright.com/

Self Portrait Project #2

After half term we are going to begin the second part of the self portrait project that we started in September. The main emphasis of the work we are going to do is aimed at developing confidence mixing accurate skin tones with a range of materials. However, we are going to look at dry point etching aswell. By now you should be confidently able to accurately draw facial proportions from direct observation.

The deadline is Friday 17th December.

The first thing that we are going to do will be an A3 self portrait using oil pastels from direct observation. Through this task you will look at skin tones and become confident at blending oil pastels together. This is an unfinished example that I did a couple of years ago.

The second thing that we are going to do is investigate colour and mood associations producing a minimum of 2 A3 self portraits using various mixed media approaches. You should all know what specific moods are associated with individual colours so this is really an opportunity for you to demonstrate a highly developed ability to produce accurate self portraits. These are a couple of examples that I have done.

Thirdly, we are going to explore dry point etching. We are going to produce a series of prints and I really want you to become extreemly confident with the process so that if you want to do it again independently, you can. Again, not a great example but good enough to give you an idea of what we are going to do.

 The last thing that we are going to do during lessons is investigate how to mix skin tones using acrylic paint. During this exercise we will become confident mixing and handling paint and the outcome will be an A2 acrylic self portrait on a stretched canvass. This is going to be the last thing we produce for the self portrait project and you will need to spend as much time on it as it needs!!!!
This is an acrylic self portrait by Ahet Ozdemir and is a transcription of Frieda Kahlo's self portraits. She has included lots of props to suggest her background and has been very successful mixing skin tones and handling paint.

This is by Sarah Edwards and was also done with acrylics.

As always the four tasks that I have planned for you to do during lessons are a minimum requirement and I would expect you to independently further develop your skills by reviewing and refining your work and producing additional tasks. These are some ideas for extra tasks you could do.

This is a really quick self portrait from a three quarter angle using biro.

This one is done with watercolours.

This one explores the three quarter angle in more detail.

This one is like the black and white conte pastel one that we just did but I've used complimentary colours instead.

You could also do a transcription of one of the Artists' Self Portraits that you studied before half term.



This is a self portrait that I did for my A level when I was your age, I thought I would stick it on here for comedy value.

The deadline is Friday 17th December.

Quick reminder of the Assessment Objectives.

Assessment Objective 1

25% of total mark

Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.


Assessment objective 2

25% of total mark

Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining their ideas as their work develops.


Assessment objective 3

25% of total mark

Record in visual and/or other forms ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on their work and progress.


Assessment Objective 4

25% of total mark

Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements

Well done to all the year 12's.

Here is a selection of work from the first term of the self portrait project.

 Grrrrrr Emma!!!

 Great expression Dan

 I have this little sister called Lola, or is it Ellie???

 Great likeness Anna!

Excellent.............. what more can I say?