David Bigelow Studio

I try to make serious art with humorous content using animals, vegetables, and minerals to communicate ideas about human foibles. Typically, I draw many pages in my sketchbook to generate an idea, then I refine that idea until (hopefully) someone else can understand it. I begin the process of making a plate as explained below. Normally, the image comes first and the title follows. I view the titles as short poems that provide a link between the image and the original idea.

Etching is a traditional technique that I use to produce my ideas. It originated in the Renaissance (500 years ago) and has changed very little. First comes the idea, then a drawing on paper. I begin the etching process by covering a metal (zinc or copper) plate with an acid resist (like wax) and scratch every detail of my drawing onto the metal plate with a needle. This can take 6 to 60 hours depending on the size and detail of the drawing. The plate is then immersed in acid - the longer it is submerged, the darker the line. Ink is forced into all the lines and then the plates surface is carefully cleaned. I place the cleaned plate face up on the press bed, cover it with wet paper and three felt blankets, and run it through my 1850 pound press (which looks like a steel wringer washer). The pressure forces the paper into the lines to retrieve the ink. Once the acid-free rag paper has dried for about a week (blotting with papers and weight), my wife Marcia adds watercolor (if appropriate). The etchings are then edited, signed, titled, and numbered - the original limited edition is limited because the process of printing eventually changes the plate. Every piece you hold in your hand is an original piece of art.

They are good for your eyes......