 |
| Kauri Snail by Toni Hartill |
Continuing on while I'm on a roll, in this post I'll share with you the next series of aluminium plates I etched earlier this year as I have been focused on getting to grips with this etching process - a way of working I have never previously explored and which has fast become my next favourite thing.
Auckland Gecko
From a simplified drawing, through multiple visits to the etching bath and finally printing and embellishing with silver leaf. Again, many small discoveries were made which I followed up and retested in subsequent plates, each time challenging myself with the addition of more detail and more purposeful markmaking. The challenge of this plate was to include smaller details and to begin to play with highlights to add depth to the foreground.
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
An unexpected bonus with this wee chap is the "scaliness" of his skin.
Something to remember and play with further.
 |
| Toni Hartill |
NZ Morepork - Ruru
The challenge in this plate was to create a more "painterly" abstract background that "read" as foliage to try get a sense of depth into the background of the image. This required, again, multiple reapplications of resists to gradually build up the deeper tones and patterning. Scary, worrying about ruining what's already there, knowing when to stop!
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
I was really delighted to see the wee ruru even managed to have a hint
of a tiny glint in his eye!
Bless his fluffy wee pompomness!
 |
| Toni Hartill |
And another small edition while I'm in the "zone".
 |
| Toni Hartill |
And Snaily makes Three!
This time I wanted to put some of the things I had learnt to the test and include even more detail: lots of linework in the foreground, a "painterly" background and I wanted to try to achieve some interesting textures for the Kauri trunk and ol' Snaily's complexion.
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
I needed to tweak some details so they read better against the background.
Takes a bit of fiddle and concentration! Good to know its possible to be this exacting though.
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
And a final test print.
 |
| Toni Hartill |
These 3 images are destined for a project which, in light of the current Covid-19 situation, is still scheduled to happen but at a slightly delayed date. Check back for updates.
I have editioned both Gecko and Ruru but I am holding off editioning Snaily til I have replenished my ink supplies. Especially as I am now trying to work towards a closer deadline of a group show in June, and hence I am feeling "frozen" about using up my precious supplies when I need plenty to "play" with. While others were out panic buying toilet paper and flour I should have been hoarding INK and PAPER!
 |
| Toni Hartill |
I have since prepped another batch of plates
but they will have to wait while I am tinkering and
attempting to generate new ideas for work for my group show. This work so far is completely different, inspired by our current predicament of being in "lockdown"and so tuning my outlook to what is close to hand. Its raising interesting thoughts and ideas...
 |
| Toni Hartill |
 |
| Toni Hartill |
Check back later for a new post about my progress
for more regular "work in progress" shots.
Thanks for visiting!
Stay safe and well
Arohanui
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to hear your feedback or comments. Thanks for visiting! Please remember to credit tonihartillart.blogspot.com when sharing or using any of my images or information.