Reworking an etching plate.

I am not a hoarder (usually) but in my studio I have a motto to, "never throw anything out". Well, that isn't ever, but there's lots of stuff in an artists studio which if not valuable, costs something and/or involves blood, sweet and tears. The other week I came across an etching which I felt was a little on the lacklustre side. It was lacking a little "something". Printed many times in many ways with 2 plates. Still I was not excited by it. No mystery, texture, intrigue.... Zinc plate is such a 'plastic' medium. you can scrape marks off it you can re-etch it you can add marks and lines.

Right is the finished Artists Proof.

Dry point has been added to the leaf plate. A bird (naturally) etched into the seed pod plate. This tinkering with the etching also adds lots of atmospheric "foul bite". Both plates inked up with added transparency in the ink, wiping from light to dark. Once the plate is made there can be so many variations!!!

Have we won?? More to come. I think the jury is still out.