What Is Pencil Etching?
An etching is a print which is made by reproducing an image scratched into a resin which has been laid upon a hard surface. This plate is placed into an acid bath which eats away the exposed metal and prints are then created. In the 19th century, this technique was appealing to artists, because they could could easily create their own prints without the need for a printer. A looser definition of the term "etching" is used when referring to reproductions of works of art in pencil, usually detailed and with a variety of shading, resembling the etchings produced in the nineteenth century.
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Etching Process
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The etching process begins with a metal plate, usually copper, but zinc or steel are sometimes used. The plate is overlaid with a thin resin. The image is then drawn in the resin using a fine etching needle. The plate is dipped in acid, which leaves indentations in the metal. These grooves hold the ink so that when printed on paper or other material it produces a reproduction of the original design.
Artists Who Produced Etchings
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Among some of the artists who produced masterful pencil etchings were Rembrandt, Goya and Pablo Picasso. Another European artist who produced etchings of note was Albrecht Dürer, from the 15th and 16th centuries. Fine pencil etchings have been produced in the 20th century and continue to be used in creating fine art.
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How to Value Etchings
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Some of the attractive qualities of etchings are their "immensely beautiful" and detailed "graphic quality," states Frank Croft, a Sante Fe, New Mexico artist and dealer, as noted by "Collector's Guide," a publication of a New Mexico art group. Pencil etchings should be rich and strong, not dry or grainy. The print should be free of water stains or tears. In most cases, pencil etchings should have full margins. When mounting a pencil etching, acid-free materials should be used, which will result in a longer life for the print. Gallery owner Tonya Carroll states that "there are many things beyond your own hand that factor into the final product," making it exciting and interesting to work with. Prints with a limited print run have more value than those with unlimited reproduction runs.
Photo and Solar Pencil Etchings
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Other types of pencil etchings include photo etchings, where film images are exposed on sensitive plates. Solar etchings are created from plates exposed by sunlight rather than an acid dip. With these techniques, a pencil or other type of drawing forms the original image that is then transferred to the plate.
Etching Machines
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With etching machines, you engrave designs into metal, glass, stone, plastics or ceramic. Etching machines are small and handheld and are electric-powered. You can use various types of tips to achieve the desired effect. You may choose a tip producing a design that resembles pencil etchings.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
