Living Prints Mezzotint On-line
Opening Page

WELCOME to Mezzotint On-line, and see the creation of a plate and print using an old printmaking technique with the convenience of new computer technologies.

Depending on when you opened this page on the World Wide Web, you may have come in at the beginning, middle or end of the process. You can back-track or take sideways views of the mezzotint and printing process by selecting highlighted key words and images.

History shows there is a connection between traditional printing, fine arts and new technologies. The connection can be seen many ways.

As for the connection among print, art and new technologies, Mezzotint On-line may speak for itself. The illustration below is the first in a series of video images made for Mezzotint On-line. You can see other Living Prints On-line projects, such as Engraving, Woodcut and Lithography On-line by selecting these highlighted words.

Above: The artist's re-cycled copper plate, left, alongside the image planned for the mezzotint. The copper is mottled with cupric oxide residue from an old sketch that didn't pan out--a blotch of black litho-crayon drawing--all that remains of a print the artist has abandoned.

You may be a newcomer to fine art printmaking, or you may be a seasoned practitioner or a print collector. Everyone is welcome, and encouraged to send feedback via e-mail. You may get the feeling the images are transforming over the days and weeks that it may take to complete this work. Designs will disappear, things will change. Enjoy the visit!

The artists writes:

"The idea of making a mezzotint on-line has been with me for a long time. I decided one day to stop thinking about it and just do it! I realized I had let technicalities hold me up--those old traps: For one thing, I didn't have a mezzotint rocker, and I didn't have a NEW copper plate. Plus, I had no press on which to print.

"These are mere technicalities. Thanks to the Davidson Galleries, I decided to forge ahead, focusing on my desire to make a mezzotint despite the inadequacies of my studio. I happened to have a plate on which I had started another project (pictured above). For a rocker, I substituted an electric Dremel engraving tool (the kind hardware stores sell). I know of several intaglio printing studios in Seattle where I can make arrangements later, when the time comes to pull trial proofs.

"So, here we go! Having written this I began the drawing and composition." To read more of the artist's story, and the stories of the publisher, printer and curators', select Stories, below.

Select the highlighted words to continue

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Who helped with this project

Stories

Artist, the printer, curator, publisher and professors'.


©1999 Bill H. Ritchie, Jr. ritchie@seanet.com