Etching Techniques

Explore the medium of etching with a variety of tools and techniques. Learn to work with acid, hard ground, soft ground, drypoint, aquatints, chine-collé and other techniques, and acquire the skills to transfer your printing plates onto paper using a printing press.

Whether you are producing traditional editioned prints or investigating other methods of printing, you can explore the exciting range of results that are possible through the etching process. With self-generated ideas, you will create one or more bodies of work. This class is designed for all levels of experience, from beginners to etching, as well as more advanced students interested in completing self-directed projects with guidance from Angus Fisher. Experienced students will have the opportunity to develop their work using either copper or zinc etching plates and will build their skills using basic hard and soft grounds, aquatinting, sugar lifts, soap grounds and other etching and printing processes suited to their project.

*Short courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. For students under 16 years of age there are School Holiday Workshops, Art Club and other youth art programs.

Angus Fisher is a practising artist with an established printmaking and drawing practice. Angus’s work investigates historical conventions of representing the natural world and utilises a range of highly refined and often intricate techniques. He exhibits regularly throughout Australia and overseas and is represented by Australian Galleries in Sydney and Melbourne. His work can be found in a number of collections, including the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia. Angus has as Master of Fine Art (Printmaking) and currently teaches the undergraduate printmaking degree at the National Art School, as well as other printmaking and drawing classes around Australia.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

Angus will discuss and advise on specific requirements in the first class and throughout the course. However, for the first class bring whatever etching materials you have available, including materials from the following list:

• Ideas – such as drawings, photos, images from books, maps, diagrams, text as subject matter for class projects
• Sketchbook to jot down notes
• Drawing media such as charcoal and pencils
• Etching needle or sharp-pointed implement, such as a compass point
• Protective clothing, such as an old shirt or apron, covered footwear
• Particle mask (can be purchased from Bunnings)

Important: Throughout the course you will be responsible for purchasing various printing papers and zinc plates, which will be available from Parkers Art Supplies on campus. Angus will take you over to Parkers on the first day to discuss the various plates and papers. The National Art School will supply all printing inks and a selected range of other equipment.