Collagraph Experiments

I'm using the process from the book INTAGLIO...
not happy with two coats of Lascaux hard ground, topped with one of soft...
I went to 4 coats of hard ground and two of the soft.
I let each coat dry before the next
and let the whole mess dry overnight...
I've had problems with the grounds tearing/pulling....I believe my plates are clean, and properly prepared.

Once I wanted to see how easy it would be to get off an older experiment....
ha...no way...probably going to have to buy the Lascaux remover.

I've no idea if the soft ground is just the hard ground with additive to slow the drying...
but, it seems that it's easier to work/scratch through than their hard ground...
(this is definately not an etching needle gliding smoothly through hard ground on a polished plate)

Booger (also from next post) was done with the 2 & 1.

I recoated it with two more coats of the hard ground and another couple of the soft...
scratched through it when it was really dry and printed...Rives lightweight..

Toxic on the left is the best print (GraphicChemical paper) I could get with the 2 and 1....

a couple more coats of hard, and another two of the soft....

more scratching through...and the two prints on the left are what I got last night.

The one of me started with 4 coats of hard and two of the soft....
and the lines were deeper....


My problem is either in my printing...getting used to the press...
or I'm just needing practice...probably...
or maybe this is just what I'm going to get with this...
but, there is more information on the plates than is printing.

In the book is mention of finer pigmented ink for drypoints..
when wiping the plates...these feel like drypoints...especially in the blacks.

I'm using Graphic Chemical etching ink.
My plates are aluminum flashing....3.5" x 5".

First Collagraph Print

I need something that gives more immediate results than these metal poundings I've been doing.
Painting on the "shoe" piece is good....
the watercolors are good...
but, I'm needing to draw INTO something.
Etching would be perfect...wouldn't be wandering far from this metal thing I've got....
but I'm really not set up to etch plates....
so, using acrylic resists, and my trusty needle I started experimenting....and it feels good.

the muse, Booger 3.5x5,aluminum flashing printed on Rives LtWt.

>

Waiting Room

Booger WAS at the Dentist...
I suppose my relationship with him is a bit over the line...
(the tech's last words to me as they walked down the hall
were something about
"if there are any serious complications, which happen at times.....")
eeuw...
but, Booger is special...

he was WeberGrill's newsletter, the GrillOutTimes official star
developing quite a following...
even getting fan mail...

he is the dog who was gone 40 days and 40 nights to return on Tony's birthday.....
part one of the tale I'll finish sooner or later in woodblock form...

he died on the operating table the next year when they took his gall bladder out...
but, tough little dog that he is, decided not to leave just yet...
so, he's into his 3rd life...

He IS the embodyment of the Small Dog of Power...

Strong, brave and handsome....in PERSON!

So this is what took my mind off "complications"....

studio pictures

I posted 9 more pictures of the studio over at
SardineQueen, which seems a better place to house them.

When the studio is made "presentable", it just doesn't work for me.

Muse

(artist & Muse)