LO1

Understanding techniques and technologies used

Hand- Etching Etching is a process of using strong acid to cut into the unprotected part of metal surface to create a design. Because of the acids strength it burns away into these metals allowing you to leave a mark to make designs. No one truly knows who originally invented etching. The idea of engraving things has been around since cavemen. Gold smiths etched designs onto amour and guns for example. The first etching on paper was originally believed to of come from Germany around the 15th Century. (http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071009034530AALTenm)

Aquatint Etchings: This type of etching can produce a very soft and tonal look, and involves biting tiny holes into the surface of the plate through what is known as a "porous ground". By "stopping out" areas of the plate with acid-proof paint between etches, different values of light and dark can be achieved

Hard Ground Etchings: This type of etching can create the effect of a pen & ink line, but the variety of line possible is much greater. First the plate is coated with a thin, even layer of dark wax. The design is then scratched into the wax with a sharp needle, and then etched by dipping the plate into acid. Only areas where the wax was scratched away will etch. Hard ground and Aquatint can be used on the same plate.

Soft Ground Etchings: This type of etching produces a look similar to a pencil drawing. The plate is coated with a thin layer of wax, as in hard ground, but the wax coating is much softer. A piece of paper is laid over the coated plate, and a design is drawn on the paper. When the paper is then pulled away, some of the wax coating will come off with it, leaving exposed metal. The plate can then be etched in the same manor as a hard gound etching.

These are descriptions of etching I have found on ‘Terry Steinke Original Etchings’. http://www.terrysteinke.com/mainpages/whatsetching.html

Here is an image I have found on ‘Google’ images by typing ‘Etching’ on ‘Google’ search engine. As you can see etching can be very complex and can look very professional when done to a good standard.

This is another image I used from ‘Google’ search engine by typing in ‘Etching’. You can create different textures within a picture by using etching to your advantage. As you can see in this picture etching has given the dears fur a style/texture that you couldn’t otherwise achieve by just drawing the picture.

When etching on metals rather than paper it allows you to touch the artwork without the potential to ruin the artwork. With drawings and paintings, if you were to touch them you could possibly ruin them by smudging the artwork.

An advantage of etching is that you can pay attention to detail because you are creating the design by hand so you can spend time and make sure there are not scuffs.

Here you can see an example of metal etching. This type of etching was used to create designs on amour and weapons.

You also encounter etching at places like Doctors for example. You may see the name of the Doctor on their door. It will probably be on a metal plate like this.