Lamentations | 1 of 3

Lamentations Series

13 3/4" x 10 3/4" 

Strathmore 103 lb Printmaking Paper (off-white)

Oil-Based Ink

2024

The Process | There are three prints in this intaglio printmaking design. I incised, engraved, or cut into a Grafix Monoprint clear polyester plate. Oil-based ink was ground into the plate by hand to get into the incised grooves of the design. I then wiped the excess ink off the plate with material called tarlatan. It's white, mesh-like, and starched to be stiff. Sometimes they use this material in a ballet tutu.

When I've wiped off the ink to my satisfaction, I wipe the edges of the plate clean, place the plate on a piece of newsprint paper that has been laid on the printmaking press (ink side up), lay a damp piece of printmaking paper on top on the plate, place another piece of newsprint on top of that paper to absorb water, lay some felt 'blankets' on top of the whole stack, and turn the wheel for the metal roller to press this all. 

Each pulled print has unique imperfections that add to the overall design.

The Why | Lamentation is a modern dance solo choreographed by Martha Graham to Zoltan Kodaly's 1910 Piano Piece, Op. 3, No. 2. Life makes me feel like this sometimes.

No mat 

No frame