Sarah Rishel

My approach to printmaking centers on the subtle detail, richness, depth and texture that are unique to intaglio etching. I am intrigued by motionless scenes of trees and countryside. I translate observations of the world around me into images that embody semblances of reality. I create aquatinted etching images 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 Š—“groundŠ— made of beeswax and asphaltum. Images are drawn into the ground with a steel needle. The finished plate is dipped 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. I blend three different hues of ink directly onto the plate to attain an earthy glow. Subsequently the surface is wiped clean with stiff Tarlatin, leaving only ink in the incised areas. Finally the image is printed on Murrillo paper using an etching press.All images are my own. I craft all the etching plates and print each edition completely by hand.