Process - Wiping

In the print lab the counters are cover in glass. Where we can roll out and lay out ink for our plates.

The ink is specific oil base etching ink. There are a wide range of colors that you can use but some them will react with the copper change it to a dull gray of that color used. So that is why you see black prints. Here I am using Vine Black ink.

I apply the ink with a square piece of mat board. Forcing the ink into the etched lines. After applying the ink over the entire surface of the copper I being to wipe the surface of the copper leaving ink in the recesses of the etched lines.To wipe the plate a type cloth called a Tarletan.

After wiping the copper plate almost completely with the Tarletan I finish wiping the plate with the palm of my hand. While wiping I try to keep one hand clean by using a glove. That way I won't get ink on my paper. For this particular print I had seven plates combined to make one large print

Almost all plates are inked and lined up ready for a piece of paper to be laid on top and ran through the press.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibit

Rising - 22x30Waiting-Temptation-In The Home - 22x30Redemption-Connection-Perception-Lost Childhood-Devotion - 22x30Invitation-BFA was such a great experience. Thanks to everyone that helped throughout the process. As you can see above these are all my prints for the BFA show. My artist statement read,

Being a religious person, I am always wondering how I can express my feelings to others while not offending or bombarding them with too much information. I feel I can be most effective through symbolism. If a person is inspired by my work they may seek out a greater knowledge of what I am trying to portray.
Throughout my life I have been inspired by art. It is what makes me function. The thought of creating something with my own two hands gives me enjoyment.
Composition is one of the hardest things to master. So I think it is nice to work in abstractions because you are not limited by reality. You have free rein to work out the composition.
If you haven't already checked out Carla Jimison's Blog please do she wrote a nice blog about me working on some of my prints.

BFA

Well it is that time of the year and this is the year I am showing in the BFA. For my BFA show I am doing a series of prints that relate though religious symbolism. I will be posting pictures of the show after the opening so if you can't make the opening you will get to see what I have been working on. For those that can make it the opening is this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Mezzotint Rocker Part 2

As you all know I bought a Mezzotint Rocker with the prize money I got from the student art show. Well during the Christmas break I made the parts to to this rig which help me rock the the plates faster and a lot more even. As for the plate that it is sitting on that is one I am working on for my BFA show that is coming up soon.

Night Photo Op

During the Thanksgiving break Nick Bontorno and I set out to take cool night photos of Rexburg and here is some of what we got. Oh and also it was super cool that night.

Phyllis

This was a picture I painted of my Grandmother over the Christmas break. I used an old black and white photo reference to paint the picture. The paint was still wet when I took the picture so there is a lot of shine in the photo.

Christmas Present

It is great to be in Stockton around my family and I have to give thanks to my brother Bryan for helping me make this gift last minute. This is a gun holster made for a Christmas gift. We draw names for a person to make a gift for and this is what I came up with.

Photo Op

I felt like going around the house and trying to take some interesting pictures of objects. I enjoy the way that pipes are made sometimes I think the plumpers are just having way to much fun. In the fence photgraph I really like the mood of a cold foggy morning which it was.

Mezzotint Rocker

So I finally received my mezzotint rocker in the mail. I went with the 4 in. rocker and got the weights to go with it. I have already tried it out and the weights help a ton. So hopefully everyone will be seeing some mezzotint prints from me in the near future.

Monotype

So I was looking up an artist this last week and I came across this artist by the name of Koichi Yamamoto . His art just inspired me to try something like what he was doing while still putting my own elements of art into it. So this is my Monotype where I used string, ink blends, transfer drawing and paper towel wipes.