What makes a superior etching ground? The 5 qualities that determine a superior etching ground are:
-It must resist the etch.
-It must be easy to draw through and not chip.
-It must be easily applied and dispersed.
-It must be easily removed,
-It must be safe to the artist and safe to the environment.
In order to understand etching grounds, you must know the nature of acrylic emulsions. Acrylic emulsions are flexible when applied; however, get stronger with time and even may become brittle. They are in an evolving state. They must be plasticized or softened, usually from their initial state. Acrylic emulsions when heat is applied bring the polymer molecules closer and make a stronger film. Some acrylics may even revert back to their original state in extreme cold and hot days. For example, an acrylic ground applied to an etching plate left in a cold car in winter will become brittle and chip. This means you have to be careful how you keep and store your plates. In acrylic emulsions in hot temperatures may become soft and want to stick together. For example, it is not a good practice to place the paintings face to face because they will stick together. Put a piece of polyethylene film between the paintings to prevent sticking.
-It must resist the etch.
-It must be easy to draw through and not chip.
-It must be easily applied and dispersed.
-It must be easily removed,
-It must be safe to the artist and safe to the environment.
In order to understand etching grounds, you must know the nature of acrylic emulsions. Acrylic emulsions are flexible when applied; however, get stronger with time and even may become brittle. They are in an evolving state. They must be plasticized or softened, usually from their initial state. Acrylic emulsions when heat is applied bring the polymer molecules closer and make a stronger film. Some acrylics may even revert back to their original state in extreme cold and hot days. For example, an acrylic ground applied to an etching plate left in a cold car in winter will become brittle and chip. This means you have to be careful how you keep and store your plates. In acrylic emulsions in hot temperatures may become soft and want to stick together. For example, it is not a good practice to place the paintings face to face because they will stick together. Put a piece of polyethylene film between the paintings to prevent sticking.
Acrylics by their nature are clear or translucent with no color. This means you have to add pigment. Some artists use India ink but you have to remember India ink is made with shellac and is a hardening ingredient. This can be a positive or negative depending on the qualities of the desired ground. Some people use food dyes to color their ground. This is a relatively neutral material composed of propylene glycol, water, and food dye. However are weak in color. Pigments in liquid suspension used to color acrylic paints won’t harden acrylics and will soften and plasticize acrylics. Cretex pure pigments are liquid and water dispersible non-water proof pigments. These are the primary pigments that have been to be the best for grounds that I have developed.
The liquid grounds that I have developed are made from acrylic floor polishes, acrylic varnishes, and textile silkscreen inks for making up the binder. These materials can be denigrated or removed without alkaline solutions. Sodium carbonate which is washing soda or soda ash, metha-silica, ammonia, powdered laundry soap of which sodium carbonate is the main ingredient.
The liquid grounds that I have developed are made from acrylic floor polishes, acrylic varnishes, and textile silkscreen inks for making up the binder. These materials can be denigrated or removed without alkaline solutions. Sodium carbonate which is washing soda or soda ash, metha-silica, ammonia, powdered laundry soap of which sodium carbonate is the main ingredient.
What is non-toxic? There is nothing that is non-toxic. This is a relative term, when applied to printmaking. Our goal is to try to use safer materials. What is safe? Safe is something that doesn’t get the artist sick and is environmentally responsible. Most artists’ materials are made with some ingredients that may be toxic. So you will want to choose products that are relatively safe. What is relatively safe? Safer products will have an A.P. symbol on them. Art products that have an A.P. symbol are approved by a board of toxicologists who have certified there is not a sufficient amount of material to harm you in the product.
Industrial products are required to have a Materials Safety Data Sheet or MSDS that tells you what toxic materials are in the product. MSDS rating of 1 or lower are desirable but are still a slight health risk. Ratings of 2 or above should be used with caution. Sometimes small amounts of toxic materials are used in these products and by law they are required to tell you what the ingredients are and the proportion. Whoa!
I have given you a lot to think about. Be careful! Be responsible! Know what products you are using and understand that most art products contain some toxic material. Take the right safety precautions and be environmentally responsible. Then you can have a good feeling about making art.
We are now ready for the easy part since I have done all testing and formulation for you.
