Etching Zinc plate // Illustration art

This method includes direct engraving of your artwork on to the the metal plate with pointed tools. The metal plate is previously protected with asphalt coating and after the artwork is carved, the metal plate is put in acid at a certain time, depending on how we want our lines to be dark or light, so-called etching process. After etching, it is important to remove the protective layer, wash board dirt and grease and it is ready for printing. In this eroded, deep lines that we get it is necesary to press the color in them so that after it goes under high weight pressure, the color stays on "soaked in water" paper.

I also used the method aquatinting whitch means that the metal plate was etched a few times so I could get darker colouring. Later I added more lines by using a few point tools and a dry needle. This fella here: TheCrafsMan SteadyCraftin explains the whole process since I didn't have my camera during the plate preparation. The only difference is that he used printed design and I did mine with asphalt wax and a brush.

Finished plate:

Results ater pressing the plate on the papper:
Using just black color




Using mainly red, black and blue color

And it was suposed to be a heart, human heart, dispite that many of them said it reminds them of Africa or reflections of a tree in the water (:

Have a good day!
VoodooLizard