Sarah Rishel

I create aquatinted etching images by using a progression of creative stages which employ the use of metal, acid, ink and paper. Stage one begins by coating a flat metal plate with an acid-impervious “ground” made of beeswax and asphaltum. Next an image is drawn into the ground using a steel needle followed by dipping the finished plate into a Nitric Acid bath biting the image into the plate. The image is further enhanced with the addition of three to seven layers of aquatint. Once the lines and aquatinting have been sufficiently bitten the plate is prepared for printing. To achieve the early glow of color in my images I blend three different hues of ink directly onto the plate. The surface is then wiped clean with stiff Tarlatan, leaving only ink in the incised areas. The image I printed on Murrillo paper using an etching press.

All images are my own. I create all the etchings plates and print the editions totally by hand.