I rediscovered printmaking recently - i find that just like drawing, it really relaxes me . But it has a tough process to follow. Reading about it or watching YouTube videos on printmaking - they make it look super easy but in reality it’s a process driven, back breaking art. A small mistake in cleaning the plate or a wrong sequence of chemicals or just a few minutes extra in the acid bath can mess up the entire process and one has to start from scratch. For me however - the biggest challenge is - and I’m yet to figure out an easy way to deal with it - is how to keep fingers clean while working with printing ink or how to put the clean , white printing paper on the press immediately after applying ink on the zinc plate . ( Rubber gloves have been tried too with little success ! ) Here, I try etching !!! image description , from left to right . 1. Using a needle to scratch the image onto the zinc plate, 2. Drying off the plate in between parchment sheets, 3. Applying printing ink and 4. Finally ,the etching print . There are some million different processes in between- and one has to keep standing throughout - hence backbreaking . These images are part of a Viscosity, aquatint and etching workshop by @shivangi.ladha. I’ve had good teachers recently @deviganguly @swarnasagar @shivangi.ladha @printclubdelhi -they have all inspired me into printmaking . I wonder why @nid_india couldn’t inspire me into printmaking years ago? #printmaking #etchingplate #aquatint #artbuzzindia (at ArtBuzz) https://www.instagram.com/nilanjanc/p/BxSL41wJE_2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6fo70br9137w














