Preparing the surfaces to print and draw off is all part of the process of making work. Thinking about the kind of mark making, the desired ink on paper effect - all these things come down to what the substrate is that the print is taken from. I love to work into copper as it is long lasting under pressure - the burrs and lines don’t wear down too quickly. Some of these plates were cut into shapes with tin snips and a jewellery saw. Wood has a lovely grainy and organic feel which is just right for other applications. One set of boards I coated with a silverpoint paint preparation, this ground enabled me to draw onto the white board with pieces of silver, a centuries-old technique - more on that soon. I particularly liked the soft grey marks it made which was reminiscent of some of the lines I have been seeing on the old maps of the region. Here is a small selection of the plates, blocks and boards I have been preparing.
