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A Presto.Un saluto da Roma.Giuseppe bellucci

Your work is beautiful, very impressive

Marilyn

Hi Erin,

I was at Lowes last night and on impulse I bought an 8x10 piece of acrylic to see if I can use that as a plate for dry point.  At this point in time, I don't recommend it.  However, it made me think;  What tools do you use on the plexiglass?  I have a diamond point needle that I thought would work on anything, but it sure stinks on acrylic.  Will that work on the plexi?

Also, have you ever tried messotint?  I'm dying to try it, but I'm not sure I want to shell out $120 for the rocker.

-M 

Hi,

Thanks for viewing my page and for the nice compliment.  I appreciate the architectural perspective in your prints as well as the fine detail.  Good luck with your classes and keep up the great work!

Ooh!  another quick question:  How thick is the plexiglass you use?

-Marcia 

Hi Erin,

 I only have the little Dick Blick press.  It's not a bad little press, but I am limited in the size of my prints.  That's OK because I don't tend to work large anyway and if I do need a bigger press, Burlington City Arts has a gorgeous Takach that members have access to. 

Now you have me going.  I have got to try plexiglass!  How durable is it in a press?  How many prints can you work before your lines get fuzzy?  I currently paint my copper and zinc plates with india ink to help me see the lines I scratch.  I wonder if that would work?  I didn't quite follow how you use old black mattboard to see your lines. Is the Mattboard placed under the plexiglass?

In the mean time, Middle Tennessee State University has a great printmaking website full of resources.  There is a discussion group on there with leads for presses all the time.  It also has links to all sorts of other sources.  Their web site is:

http://www.mtsu.edu/~art/printmaking/

 I plan to print a bunch this weekend since all 4 feet of snow we had on the ground last Sunday is now in Lake Champlain. I got my first new ski equipment since I was 16 for Christmas and got to ski once before it all floated away.  Ah well, more time to print.

Talk to you later!

-M 

Hi Erin!

I am so glad you contacted me!  I love your stuff, too and I love your drypoints! I never thought of using plexiglass as a matrix.  How does it hold up? I love drypoint because of it's fabulous spontinaity.  It's like drawing on steroids and I love the fact that I'm burning calories while doing it.  (I use copper plates, so I can work up quite the sweat.)  I got started on waterless lithography from a local workshop with Davis TeSelle.  He's a fabulous landscape artist and a good teacher so I was really lucky.  It was my first exposure to printmaking and I really like it.  However, there is so much preparation and conditions that impact the process that I have really grown to love drypoint as well.  How big are your plates?  -M