The Drypoint Process

Sharp etching tools, craft knives and sandpaper are used to create textured drawings onto silver card. These can then be inked like one would an etching, just to highlight the lines and textures. Alternatively, one can ink in a painterly way in either monochrome or many colours, using oil based printing inks.

This is for me where the distinction between a drypoint and a monoprint blurs slightly! I then use my intaglio press to print onto pre-soaked and blotted Fabriano print making paper. One can obtain about  seven to ten prints from one ‘plate’ before the surface starts to lose definition. I often work into my drypoints with water colours.