Attucks Theater

Last year, after completing my Wells Theater etching, I decided to continue drawing important local theaters to make a series. The next on my list was the Attucks Theater. It was designed by African-American architect Harvey Johnson and showcased a host of legendary performers like Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and Mamie Smith. It is named in honor of Crispus Attucks, an African-American and the first American patriot to lose his life in the 1770 Boston Massacre. It was a very busy theater until 1953. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and after being restored years later, reopened in 2004.

I’ve had the pleasure to learn a lot of interesting facts about our local theaters!

This is a solar plate etching done from a drawing on glass. 

Frog Etching

This is one of my first etcings that I did while I was in school but still really like. I like the tones even though I didn't use any aquatint! There is some plate tone which adds to the effect. My teacher liked the way the dark spots came out on the frog - looking fuzzy and almost three dimensional. I'm sure that I etched those areas in the nitric acid (what we used in school at the time) for quite a long time to make the lines very black. Anyway, linework can be very satisfying!

Butterfly Etching

"Just living  is not enough"

said the butterfly,

"one must have sun

freedom and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson

The Test Rabbit

The final result of my etching test rabbit.
I forget how much work they can be!

Sur la Mer

It's a miniature etching that I did a few years ago when I liked fish! Well, I still like fish but I've been doing more birds lately. I'll have to add fish somewhere!

Chit Chat - Bird Etching

All framed and ready for the auction at my art center in two weeks!

Etching with chine colle paper.

15" x 18" framed

Chit Chat

Etching plates look so interesting inked up! Here I was printing it to see what progress I have made after burnishing some areas. Today I'm printing it with chine colle paper and I'm anxious to see how it looks!

9" x 12"

Ristorante SanDesiderio

This is an etching of a little restaurant that I saw in Siena, Italy a few years ago. I have changed it just a little. The will of the artist! I found that it had a website!:

http://www.ristorantesandesiderio.com/

Moonstruck

The beetles dance on the warm lake, mesmerized by the moonlight.....

4"x 6" 2009

The Dilemma

Which was first??

Hmm..I still don't know!

2007

Etching

Eternity

I enjoyed doing these little etchings of birds in cemetaries. Here is another in its frame, all ready for my show, which opens tomorrow evening at TCC's Visual Arts Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. I love making miniatures but I worry that they don't take up a lot of space on a gallery wall. But sometimes they say that small can be better. I'll try to remember that!

(See the invitation in the previous post!)

3" x 5"

What to do??

I have been spending too much time the last few days just looking at this beautiful copper plate and trying to find an idea for it! It is the last one for my upcoming show and I am struggling for an idea. It is a big one for me - 9"x 12"! Anyway, I will keep at it until something ...well..happens! They say walking can sometimes cure the blocked mind. That sounds too easy but it's worth a try!

Twilight Gathering

Earlier in the blog I showed you the etched plate for this print but not the print because it wasn't finished. Now that it's finished, here's the end result! I used a chine colle paper in the background which is hard to see here but I think it adds a nice soft look to the etching.

Strawberries

Strawberries from my trip to the farm in 2005!

Etched Plate

Yesterday I was in the studio working on this etched copper plate for a new print. An etched plate can be very beautiful. I love the texture! Keep reading and you will see how it looks after inking!

Inking the Etched Plate

I used a square of mat board to spread ink on the plate. It's a good use for some of the spare board that comes from matting previous prints. Ah, the challenges of matting! I'm getting off topic.....!

Wiping an Etched Plate

Next I wiped the plate with a material called tarleton. The excess ink is gently removed from the surface and ink remains in the bitten lines. Yes, it's messy and I wear gloves! Right before printing you have to be especially careful not to get stray ink on unwanted places....like clean paper!

Inked Plate

The plate - all ready for printing on paper. I know it will need a little more work - the nature of etchings! But sometimes you never know until you print it. Anyway, I'll show the final print later but first I must finish all of the stages!

6"x 8"

Casa Cortona #1

I was extremely lucky to find myself in Italy several years ago and was walking down the streets of Cortona in Tuscany and found many old entrances to homes, such as this one. To go there again someday! Tuscany is a photographer's dream with its surreal landscape and historic hill towns!

3"x 5"

Etching

Over the Meadow

Although I printed this etching in black only, I think that it would be interesting to see it in color. I'll have to try it!

6"x 9"
2006