Deborah Kunic

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VVHAT IS AN ETCHING?
An etching is an image drawn on a copper or zinc plate and then printed by hand, one at a time. The reverse image will be printed from the plate. If an etching has writing on it, it was drawn on the plate in reverse.

HOVV IS AN ETCHED IMAGE MADE?
It is drawn through an acid-proof coating or "ground" on the surface of the plate. The exposed metal areas; unprotected by the acid-proof coating, are then "etched" or bitten by immersing the plate in acid. The bitten area creates a crevice in the metal which will hold the ink for printing.

The plate is then inked by hand, forcing stiff etching ink down into the bitten lines.
The excess is wiped off with stiff cheesecloth-like cloth called "ta oo leton".

A final wipe is then made to clear unwanted ink off the smooth, unbitten areas. The amount of wiping
at this stage will determine how much "tone" will be on the overall image.

HOVV IS AN ETCHING PRINTED?
The inked plate is then placed face-up on the "bed" of the press, with dampened 100% rag print paper cut or torn to size laid on top. Three thick, wool felt pads or "blankets" are laid on top, the bed of the press then passing between two rollers at 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch, forcing the dampened fibers of the paper down into the lines. The new print will have the plate mark embossed in the paper with the image
printed in reverse. The lines will appear slightly "raised".

VVHAT IS AN EDITION?
You will see a difference between prints from the same "edition" (group of prints from the same plate). This is because etchings are done individually, by hand, on an etching press, changed little from Rembrandt's time. Each print is individually identified as a member of it's titled edition as a fraction, with individual number on top, over total number of prints in the edition below.

ECR Gallery ~ Every Cowboy's RanchHouse Gallery
2261 Center Street ~ Cambria, California 93428