I haven't posted for a while, because I've been working on a mezzotint. This is a very slow and labour-intensive method, which repays effort and time by allowing a wider tonal range than any other.
The plate was rocked with 72 passes of a coarse 45 teeth per inch rocker, which ploughs the smooth surface of a plate up when rocked from side to side, creating pits and burrs that hold ink.
The plate was rocked with 72 passes of a coarse 45 teeth per inch rocker, which ploughs the smooth surface of a plate up when rocked from side to side, creating pits and burrs that hold ink.
65 tooth Lyons rocker This took around 25 hours; the rocker moves in a straight line and I rotate the plate a little for each pass, so that the pits and burrs cross and mesh until there is a completely random distribution covering the whole area. I like a clear margin between the image and plate edge, so this is masked off with card: despite this, the rocker bites through the card in places leaving marks which must be removed before printing.
After the plate is rocked, I use scrapers and burnishers with light oil to remove and smooth the pits and burrs: the more I remove the less ink remains when the plate is wiped, so I can control how light or dark areas of an image will be.
This normally takes at least twice as long as rocking,
The image is of a Thomas Hall stockman's knife which belonged first to my great grandfather, then my grandad and now is mine- hence Three Generations. As far as I can tell, this knife is at least 104 years old, and I use it regularly on the allotment: the apple blossom behind the knives is my Laxton's Superb, a variety my grandad grew, so the knife was probably used by him at some point to trim or cut the very same apples.
After the plate is rocked, I use scrapers and burnishers with light oil to remove and smooth the pits and burrs: the more I remove the less ink remains when the plate is wiped, so I can control how light or dark areas of an image will be.
This normally takes at least twice as long as rocking,
The image is of a Thomas Hall stockman's knife which belonged first to my great grandfather, then my grandad and now is mine- hence Three Generations. As far as I can tell, this knife is at least 104 years old, and I use it regularly on the allotment: the apple blossom behind the knives is my Laxton's Superb, a variety my grandad grew, so the knife was probably used by him at some point to trim or cut the very same apples.
Edges filed and beveled I started by masking the image off to stop copper particles contaminating it.
I roughly filed and beveled the plate edges- at this point the corners are still square.
I roughly filed and beveled the plate edges- at this point the corners are still square.
Edges medium filed, corners rounded I used a medium file to take the rougher edges and filings off, and to round the corners- which is how I learned to shape plates.
I have also filed the underside of the edges to remove any swarf.
At this stage, I can run my finger down the edge without fear of cuts, but it still needs work to prevent it holding ink and print cleanly.
I have also filed the underside of the edges to remove any swarf.
At this stage, I can run my finger down the edge without fear of cuts, but it still needs work to prevent it holding ink and print cleanly.
Edges and corners scraped I have used a scraper to further refine and smooth the edges. It's starting to look something like usable now.
Still loose copper Burnishing the edges. Even at this point there are still stray pieces of copper coming away.
Edges burnished I've finished burnishing the edges; this is now an hour and a half since I started. The corners are yet to be done.
Rough corners Corners need love too.
Smoothed and polished Shiny happy corners.
Notice the burnishing marks at the edge of the image; this is one area where the rocker bit through the card at the start.
Notice the burnishing marks at the edge of the image; this is one area where the rocker bit through the card at the start.
Grubby margins The margins are still dirty and need a final polish before inking and printing. The image edges are taped off for obvious reasons.
| After a few minutes with Brasso and elbow grease, we're ready for inking. Time to warm up the hotplate. |  Ready for action |
Inked and wiped Half an hour later; inked, wiped and ready to print
First proof The first proof: overwiped, and I have a lot of refining to do, but it's down on paper and I have a guide. From experience, it will probably take five or more proofs before it's good enough.
Also, the plate marks and margins are pristine from filing and polishing: prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance.
Also, the plate marks and margins are pristine from filing and polishing: prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance.
RSS Feed