Smooth newt aquatint etching

'Smooth Newt' is a limited edition aquatint etching of a male smooth newt against a backdrop of pond weed. Printed onto Somerset 250gsm acid free paper, with Cranfield Caligo safe wash oil-based ink. The newt is hand coloured with water colour paints. Signed and numbered on the front. This is an edition of just 7 prints.

Actual print size: 22 x 16cm
Paper size: 35 x 25cm

Etching is a process that involves covering a metal plate in a thin ground, and scratching the line work of the image into this. The plate is then emersed traditionally in acid, but in my case I use the less dangerous alternative of copper sulphate, in order to etch the line into the metal. 'Aquatinting' is the process of exposing larger areas of the pate to the copper sulphate for differing amounts of time to create areas of tone.

As prints are made individually by hand, please expect slight variation in detail and ink density, which makes every print unique.