“Jump”

Description

I like this technique – sugar-lift aquatint – for its calligraphic qualities. Drawing directly on the plate with ink demands focus and speed from the artist.

Sugar-saturated ink and a brush are used to draw on a metal plate covered with aquatint ground. When the ink dries up, the plate is covered with etching ground on top of the aquatint. Then the plate is submerged in water. Water lifts the ink with the etching ground, exposing the metal under the drawing. After that, the plate is etched in acid.

This technique allows for brush-stroke effect in an intaglio print.