I’ve been longing to have a go with etching and aquatint for some time now, despite all the scary chemicals involved.  Last weekend, I attended a one day workshop with Alan Birch , who took us through the process of creating an etching with aquatint (you can find details of these processes here).  Whilst there are things I would change if I did it again, I am delighted with this print.  It looks like something out of a book, as if someone else actually made it.  I just love aquatint.

Drypoint etching.  This plate was produced by scratching into a thin sheet of aluminium, applying ink and then wiping it off again, leaving ink in the scratches.  I’ve tried to get areas of tone by using steel wool, sandpaper and a roulette tool, but I feel I need to find more varied ways of applying tone – particularly to small areas.  My options are to use fine lines (cross hatching etc.); or to try adding texture such as fine sand.  Any ideas from anyone who knows anything about drypoint would be very welcome!  I’d love to find something that resembles aquatint, but that doesn’t require the use of acid.