Learning something new

This Saturday past, I attended a Solorplate workshop at Pressworks, a printmaking co-op in Seattle. Pressworks has existed for over twenty-five years and prides itself in being a toxic-free studio. As my last year demonstrates, I am always up for learning new printmaking techniques. While I might not use my new found skills immediately, it's always nice to have something in the 'toolbox' I can pull out at a later date. What interested me in trying this technique was its quickness, its relative low toxicity and its potential for reproducing a nice 'etched' line. On many levels, it did not disappoint. It's fast! In the five hour workshop I was able to make and proof two 5" x 7" plates, plus several smaller test plates, one of which you can see below. It's clean! No acid is needed to 'etch' the plate, just light and water. The line quality is okay, but certainly not as fine as what you can get with a zinc or copper plate and acid.

Solarplate test

If I have one complaint it's that there is not much interaction with the plate. I love hacking away at a piece of wood or linoleum; I love scraping away at a metal plate; this method has none of that. Still, it was a fun day.
Last night I began transferring an image to wood for a new print. I like beginning a new piece, it feels just like falling in love, and who doesn't like that?