The Poor Artist's Etching/Drypoint Process

Actually printed with acrylic paint!

I'm cheap. I didn't realize how fancy etching was until I looked at a few
YouTube videos and saw what in the process I was missing.

But I love the line quality in etches, so I'm not giving up just yet.


 I got a tiny block of lino to practice on. It's two sided, so there will be another tiny etching to make next.

Tools of the cheap trade:

After cutting and scratching out the shape on the lino with my knife, I used my finger to push paint into the crevices. I used a dollar store squeegee to get the extra paint off.

I did soak the paper a bit too.

To make the pull I put down a clean sheet of paper to protect my wood floor.
Next, I placed my lino plate on it, and put my damp watercolor paper on top of it carefully.
On top of the damp paper I laid a terry washcloth, something nice and squishy and fluffy to push the paper down. Then I took my rolling pin (brayer) and went over the pile from bottom to top with the most even pressure I could manage.









I peeled off each layer carefully and this is my result!

I even took two pulls from the one inking.

This is addicting. I want to do more! I'd like to work on tightening the lines that print, which might work with a thinner printing agent anyway. I'd also like to try multi-color and two-plate etching, maybe an ecorche.

Feeling Discordant in Painting and Life

Painting in progress

I dropped the ball, very badly, on a class yesterday. I still feel horrible about it, and it's affecting my art even though I can't do anything about it.

I called the one student  I had let down, but I let my managers, and the corporation down too. And myself, because it's just not like me to be that un-conscientious. If I could do more to fix it I would, of course. I do love the opportunity to teach, and understand that if something of this magnitude happens again, I may no longer have that opportunity at the company. That's understandable; even though I don't do it on purpose.

So, it leaks into my art. Discordant colors and brush strokes. Strangely, it's working for the art, and presents a voice by itself. One I hope I can develop without the guilt and sense of inadequacy that has accompanied it so far.

Paintings for Sale on Etsy-- Great Christmas Gifts!

A chromatically shaded still life painting of apples! I used purples and blues for the shadows instead of browns or complements, which works well with yellow and orange apples.


You can find it for sale on my Etsy  store here:

Buy me here!

Painting In Progress: a Still Life of Bottles in Acrylics

So, here's a fun piece I'm working on. I've laid the bottles out in blues, and don't know if they will stay that way. I will probably use a retarder medium later for blending help.

I don't know how photo-realistic I will make it, because it looks kinda cool the way it is.

New Time Laspe Painting Video on YouTube of Landscape.

I put a new video up on YouTube! The painting is for sale, and I will have a link to the store soon.

Here's the LINK.

And pictures of the final product.

30 Days of Worship Challenge: 30 Names and Characteristics of God- Day 13

God is Holy.

30 Days of Worship Challenge: 30 Names and Characteristics of God- Day 12

The God of Justice, whose word splits bone and marrow, and judges the heart.