RACHAEL KANTARIS - About the Etching Process

Etching is a process in which metal plates are "bitten" in acid using various acid resists to create marks and textures. Where the metal has been exposed to the acid the smooth surface is attacked, creating a texture which will hold ink.

Different areas are bitten on different plates in a way which will eventually (after much proofing and re-etching!) work together when layered one after the other onto paper.

Ink is buffed into the etched areas on all three plates in different colours and then printed onto dampened paper through an etching press.

The following photos show the printing of the colour etching Small Peach Big Blue, which is number 2 in the Etchings Gallery 3.

2. Inking up an etching plate.

3. Blue hands Inking up (not only the plate!).

4. Laying the dampened paper onto the first inked up plate.

5. Wheeling the paper, plus the plate, through the etching press.

6. Peel and peep.

7. After the second plate has gone through.

8. Registering the third and final plate.

9. The final result of a three plate etching.

10. Working with Wilhelmina Barns-Graham in 1997. Rachael was her platemaker and printer and they made three large etchings together.