‘Old Hands’ – A new series of photo gravure prints
The series is made to reflect the experience of observing one’s ageing hands.
The gravure process is an intriguing mix of digital photography ( phone and slr); polymer coated .73mm steel plate; exposure through aquatint screen and direct to plate digital printing; water developing and sun drying, before the plate can be inked up through the analogue etching process and printed onto water soaked paper, all by the same hands that are represented. There are many variables all kept in balance to achieve a effective print
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#1 Half Empty? Half Full?
June 2023. 20x20cm
Polymer plate inked on the press bed awaiting the damp paper to be lain over it, ready to be wound through and transfer the ink to paper.
click for roaming close up
#2 Always at hand
January 2024. 20x20cm
Finished print with velvet black ink on Hanhmueller paper.
A slideshow of the analogue making process
A slideshow of the Testing process using water and sunshine to develop and harden the polymer on the plate in preparation for inking up and winding through on the pressure press to print out on paper.
The following pages document prints #3 – #6 and the direct to plate digital techniques and considerations made.
