5 week etching with copper and ferric

Service Description

Discover the traditional art of etching in this 5-week introductory course, perfect for beginners eager to explore this traditional printmaking technique. Working with copper plates and ferric chloride, you’ll be introduced to a range of classic etching processes, including hardground, soft ground, and sugarlift aquatint. In Week 1, you’ll begin with hardground etching — learning about materials, safety, and creating your first etched designs. In Week 2, we’ll explore soft ground, experimenting with textures and impressions to add richness and variety to your lines. In Week 3, you’ll delve into sugarlift aquatint, a painterly process that allows for expressive marks and tonal depth. By Weeks 4 and 5, you’ll refine your plates and pull a small edition of prints, combining everything you’ve learned into a finished body of work. Each session blends hands-on practice with step-by-step guidance from Jemma, helping you gain confidence and proficiency in these traditional etching techniques. By the end of the course, you’ll have a collection of original copperplate etchings and the skills to continue exploring this craft independently. Please be aware that the studio currently does not have wheelchair access (this is something we are working on).