Flying over Paris

I can't believe it is May already, how fast the year is going.

Here is my first finished print of Lady Penelope flying over Paris. I have used a number of etching techniques; Aquatint, spit-bite and drypoint. I am now pleased with the contrast, which had been difficult to achieve as I had some problems with the aquatint.

The print is called "III. Two First-Class Tickets To Paris". It is 7" x 8" and refers to chapter 3 in "Around The World In Eighty Days" by Jules Verne, where the characters travel through Paris. In the book, the journey is actually by train, in the film it was balloon. I used an airship balloon to satisfy my Steampunk heart. My very first flight anywhere was to Paris, so I absolutely felt the need to make it air travel.

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Encaustic Monoprint Technique

Today I visited a printmaking friend's studio. Amy is experimenting with encaustic monoprints. I have never heard of this before so I was excited to have a demo. Here is the basic process: 1. Heat up the homemade heat box. 2. Rub the beeswax pigment sticks on the metal surface of the heat plate to melt them. Create a design on the plate with one or more colors. Step 3. Lay a piece of rice or rag paper face down on the painted design and cover with newsprint. Burnish. Step 4. Carefully pull the paper away from the heat plate. Steps 5-6. Clean the heat plate with paper towels. Add more color to the heat plate and repeat the process to add patterns or more color to the print. The smell of the wax is yummy and the pigments are really thick and rich to work with. I had a little play to get a feel for what the print is like (image below). Now I want to build a heat box and play!!

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Cricketts Inky Art Blot

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