'Pawns #Multi1' | Contemporary Mezzotint
- 2 Plate Contemporary Mezzotint etching print
- Limited Edition Prints
- Somerset Velvet 300gsm
- Multicolour intaglio ink
- 29 x 31cm
- Style: Abstract Print
- Subject: Pawn Chess Piece
Oliver Murdock focuses on themes of chess documentation, using his art practice he has most recently developed a set of Pawns that are named according to their specific colour code.
Each contemporary mezzotint chess artwork is independently hand-printed using the etching technique of Mezzotint. Each print is 1 of 1.
Size of the artwork:
Height : 31cm
Width : 29cm
Depth : 300gsm
Once you place your order it will be processed and shipped within 2 weeks of purchase.
Materials used: Oil paint, Paper, Mezzotint etching.
Delivery
Dispatches from the UK.
Aim to dispatch with in 2 weeks of purchase.Refunds or Returns
For any comments or complaints please email owm.space@gmail.com
FAQ's
What is a mezzotint printing?
Mezzotint is a print made from an engraved metal plate (usually steal or copper). the surface of the metal has been scraped and polished to create and image and give areas of shade and light respectively.
What is a mezzotint portrait?
A mezzotint portrait is a type of print made using the mezzotint technique, which is known for its ability to produce rich, velvety tones and subtle gradations of light and dark. This method involves roughening a metal plate to create a textured surface that holds ink, allowing the artist to create detailed and expressive images. Mezzotint portraits are particularly valued for their depth and the fine details they can capture, making them a popular choice for depicting people.
How do you create a mezzotint?
The artist would indent the metal printing plate by etching a metal tool across the surface. Each valleys of the metal plate hold ink, and if printed at this stage it would be solid and no image would appear. However the artist creates varying tones by gradually rubbing down or burnishing the tough surface to various degrees of smoothness to reduce the ink-holding capacity of areas of the plate.
What is the Mezzotint process?
- Preparing the Plate: An artist begins with a copper or steel plate. The entire surface of the plate is roughened with a tool called a "rocker," which has a curved, serrated edge. This creates a textured surface that, if inked and printed at this stage, would produce a solid black print.
- Creating the Image: To create the image, the artist smooths areas of the plate to varying degrees using tools like scrapers and burnishers. The smoother the area, the less ink it holds, resulting in lighter tones in the final print. The rougher areas retain more ink, creating darker tones. This allows for a wide range of tonal values from deep blacks to bright whites. Inking the
- Plate: Once the image is fully prepared, the plate is inked. Ink is applied over the entire surface and then wiped off, leaving ink only in the textured areas.
- Printing: The inked plate is placed in a printing press, and dampened paper is laid on top. When the plate and paper are run through the press, the paper picks up the ink from the plate, transferring the image onto the paper.