Sant' Agata Still Life
Sant' Agata Still Life
Mezzotint, plate size 15x12 cm, paper size 34x31 on Arches Moulin du Gue paper. Edition of 12
This print is an original work of art made by hand. Mounted, unframed. Free Shipping
The mezzotint, like many of my prints, is taken from one of my paintings. The title refers to the iconography of the martyt who is usually represented offering her breasts on a plate. I love this mezzotint and have it hanging in my kitchen.
Mezzotint is my favourite printmaking technique these days, as it allows me to work in a purely tonal way. It's also labour intensive and each print takes many hours of work. I work on a copper plate which is prepared with a special tool ( a rocker) that pokes the surface with thousands of small holes and makes it rough like sandpaper. I transfer the drawing ( usually from one of my paintings) onto the plate and start scraping out what will turn out to be the lightest parts. Where I don't scrape, the rough surface will retain the ink. Working from dark to light, the image slowly appears.
Once I am satisfied with the plate, I edition it on my printing press. I only produce small editions.