The umber plate is comprised of plant matter I gathered in my garden. I love how soft ground picks up the finest detail. The black plate has some soft ground but was mostly created using various depths of aquatint. My background is science and I’m continually thrilled with what I see around me.
Two plates were used to create this print.
This etching is a chine colle. I etched the woman’s outline on the plate and then lost my direction, so I put it away for a couple years. Eventually I put the tree in and then to balance it I added the tattoos. I spent a lot of time trying to balance this piece – I learned that it pays to plan a little more.
This is an etching of my granddaughter sliding her mask on in preparation to playing her violin at a farmer’s market. This is an early print, so it contains many firsts for me.
This is my first reduction block print. The rooster was photographed in Ireland and the background was designed from flowers in my garden. Each print went through the press eight times.
This Parisian kindly agreed to be photographed. I loved his clothing and endeavored to closely copy it.
The final press run was a monoprint to finish the clouds
Crystal Vase
This print delights me. The book is a leather bound volume of Locke’s essay – “Human Understanding” published in 1857. I own that book. On top of it is a pear, grown on a neighbor’s tree and a small bird nest that fell out of one of my trees. I had never etched a bird nest and I struggled with this. Being a person with a love of science I drew it exactly as it was. I could have shaped it more dramatically and pretty but that’s how it was, rather crunched with twigs in disarray.
I have a degree in Anthropology and I concentrated on the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The presence of Ravens are inescapable in the Northwest. Their stories and beauty permeate our lives. Plus a local Raven appears on my deck at breakfast awaiting its share?
Vicki Platts Art 