I made my first Print!!!

Remember how last quarter I was keeping you all updated on the latest homework assignments in my 3D design class? Well, this quarter its a whole new ball game: Printmaking. I wasn't even sure of what Printmaking was before taking this class. As we learned about it, I kept thinking how am I going to ever figure this out? Basically there are lots and lots of steps, and you can't mess up or else generally you will have to start over. So I will break it down for you. If only I had pictures of each step.

There are two types of printmaking taught at PSU: etching and woodcuts.

Etching is where you remove what you do want printed.
Woodcuts is where you cut into a slab of wood and remove all that you don't want printed.

I am taking the etching class. So here is the brief version of what it takes to make just one print:
1. Pick out the size of your copper plate.
2. Apply waxy surface called "hard ground" to plate let dry for 2 days.
3. Using your etching tool draw into the hard ground. ANY MARK MADE ON HARD GROUND WILL BE ETCHED INTO COPPER. Therefore, you are basically drawing with pen and cannot mess up. (you can go back into your copper plate later and physically scrape away your mistakes, but this is not fun.)
4. Once drawing is finished, spray paint back of copper plate, let dry then soak plate in chemical bath for 20 minutes. All the marks you made on your hard ground will be engraved (etched) into the copper because of the chemicals eating away at any copper exposed.
5. Remove and wash copper plate. Clean plate with mineral spirits removing all remnants of hard ground.
6. soak paper of choice in water while inking up your plate.
7. Pick ink of choice, and using a plastic scraper (much like what you'd use to frost a cake) "frost" your plate with lots of elbow grease. (ink is not that easy to push around)
8. Remove paper from water and dry off with towel and rolling pin.
9. place inked copper plate face up on printing press. Lay paper on top of copper plate. turn the nob until it all comes out the other side of the press.
10. Tada! A print was made!!! Now, let it dry.

Crazy isn't it? My immediate response to learning this process was: why not draw with a pen and save some time? After completing the process and making my first print I can now appreciate the fact that the art of printmaking mostly lies in making more than one. After drawing into a copper plate you now have a stamp to use over and over, forever and ever. You can make 10 to sell and one to keep for yourself too. I think that by the end of this class I will understand even better. And alas'! Here is what the assignment was:

My first printmaking assignment was called "On the Road." We were to bring in any pictures, or drawings that would inspire us to a final idea. My pictures reminded me of a road trip with Ashley Whipple. We were driving to visit our friend Cory in SLO at Cal Poly and then we were to continue our drive with Cory to visit Marisa at Point Loma. After driving all day we some how managed to get lost. It was a lengthy adventure after trying to figure it out on our own/ worrying about worrying our parents if we called them. Eventually I think we ended up calling Ashley's dad, but anyway. All this to say, after we got on the right track it was way past dinner time and we were tired and hungry. So, we go through an in-n-out drive through. All I remember is sitting in Ashley's car desperately trying to open a ketchup packet. It was one of those moments where exhaustion/hunger/the giggles prevent you from using any strength you have left. It was obviously funny enough for me to remember how ever many 4 years later this is now. And so....

My Ketchup Packet Print was born.
This is the final print.

We had to make 5 of them
And in printmaking lingo it would be called "an edition of 5."
This is the copper plate with the drawing etched into it.

And because you are making a print of the drawing you have to work backwards. Meaning that the print of your drawing will be the reverse of what your plate looks like. So, if you have text in your drawing, you need to write it backwards...

Can't wait to share future prints with you.
Love,
Katie