CHINE COLLE

Intaglio & Etching Print. From Copper Plates.

2025

Chine collé is a printmaking technique in which the image is transferred onto a fine paper that is bonded onto a heavier paper by running it through an Intaglio press.

Experiments with Awagami Japanese Papers;

- Kitakata SH-16
- Kitakata Green
- Okuwara Select
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These pieces are printed using a copper etching plate.

Intaglio etching is a labour intensive printmaking technique that involves incising the lines & dots onto a copper plate, with a sharp point. It is then etched in Ferric Chloride, which bites the design into the copper plate. I also add & etch an aquatint spray (which create a tooth within the heavier lines)

The plate is then inked with etching ink. The ink sits in the grooves, whilst the surface ink is wiped off.

Damp Japanese Washi paper is laid on top of the plate.

The ink is then drawn from the incised lines, onto dampened paper, using an etching press.

The japanese paper is now bonded to the heavy weight etching paper

Each print takes a long time to produce, some up to an hour.

I print in small editions, keeping the work precious and limited.

Each print may vary slightly , as they are individually printed by hand.