Art & Music | Art

The Printmaking Process
Viscosity Etching
Felicitas Wetter

Every print in fine arts is handmade. Color etching incorporating the viscosity technique allows the printmaker to create multicolor prints from one metal plate. The plates used for etching are copper or zinc. The plate is covered with an acid-resistant waxy ground, which is then drawn upon with an etching needle to expose the metal. The plate is etched or bitten in acid baths to various levels. Subsequently the plate is cleaned, inked with etching inks of various viscosities and printed on 100% rag paper and run through an etching press. Each print is hand pulled. Artists can make small etches of a particular image or print one of a kind using large rollers for each color. The viscosity technique lends itself for experimentation and as each image undergoes changes (states), the artist’s ideas of creating a unique work are realized. Each state has its own value and is part of the labor intensive process.