Stephen Sebastian

As a printmaker I use a variety of etching techniques to craft my copper etching plates. The most frequently used techniques include aquatinting, mezzotint, burnishing, white ground, and the line etch. Other recent techniques include creating the basic image on grained glass or mylar and exposing it to a light sensitive plate. From this initial plate I will use traditional etching techniques to complete the crafting of the image. From the completed intaglio plate I will print a small edition on 100% rag paper. After a print has dried sufficiently, I often add additional color with transparent watercolors. I also like to occasionally experiment with the monotype for its freedom of expression and sponuniety. I create the initial part of the monotype on 10 mil mylar that I treat with transparent gesso. After the gesso has dried, I coat the mylar with a special solution that I have developed that aids in the release of the pigment from the mylar when passed through my etching press. I typically use a variety of mediums throughout the creation process to achieve the desired effect. I find that dampened Luna watercolor paper gives me the best result for my work. I often add additional color after the monotype has dried to enhance certain areas. I often spray a satin UV varnish to complete the process.