Drypoint Etching

Drypoint is a printmaking technique in which an image is incised into a plate with a hard-pointed "needle" of sharp metal or diamond point.

Dry Point prints a softer line than an etching, so you really have to dig - and do so at an angle - to kick up a burr in the plexiglass.

It will give more of a curb for the ink to hold on to.

Laying etching ink on the plate with a scraper. Each ink application, and each trip through the press squashes the tooth of the line work flat, so it holds less and less ink, and prints really light after a handful of impressions.

Dry points are usually printed in smaller editions than other typeof etchings as a result.

Etching lines

Drypoint lines

Clear PlexiglassYour drawing Nails or Stylus (a sharp metal point)Water-based InkPrinting PaperTowelsFeltSmall pieces of mat board or cardboardTape

Materials:

Proof“Pulling a proof”EditionDrypointStylus/ScribeBurrsPlate“Inking the plate”

Vocabulary

Create a drawing that is the same size of your piece of plexiglass

Make sure your drawing uses only linesTo create value build up lines using hatching

or crosshatching.

NOTE: Your print will be a mirror image of your drawing so make sure to flip any words so they will print correctly

Creating a Drawing

Tape your drawing to the underside of your piece of plexiglass

Use a scratching tool (scribe/stylus) to reproduce the drawing on the plastic

Creating a Plate

Apply in in a figure eight motion to make sure it fills all the lines.

To remove ink from the plate’s surface use a towel or gauze. Be sure to wipe in a circular motion to not remove the ink from the burrs

Don’t worry if you leave some ink on the surface. It will create interest.

Inking Your Plate

Soak your paper to get it completely wet. Place your paper between two flat towels and

apply pressure to the top to remove excess water. You need your paper to be damp and not soaked.

Prepare your paper

Place your plate on a piece of feltPlace a piece of damp paper on the

plate and cover it with another piece of felt.

Rub the entire felt, applying firm pressure.

Take a look at your proof. Does your plate need more lines? Deeper lines? Did you get the ink off well enough? Does the plate need more detail?

Sign , date, and label your proof Make revisions to your plate

Pulling a Proof

After revising your plate you may print again.*you may need to make several proofs before you are satisfied with your plate.

You may make prints until you plate wears down and you lose detail.

Label directly under each print in the following format:Proofs- Write the title on the left. Write AP (Artists

Proof) in the center. Sign the right.Prints- Write the title on the left. Write the edition in

the center. The first print will be the first edition, label it “1”. Do the same with subsequent prints. Sign the right.

Printing

Artist Examples

Rembrandt

The Three Crosses

Rembrandt

1653

Drypoint

St.Jerome beside a Pollard Willow

Rembrandt

Mary Cassatt United States (1845-1926)

En Deshabillé (alternatively titled Italian Girl), ca. 1889

Drypoint

Student examples- Designer animals