All of my etchings are printed off a thin zinc plate. I coat the plate with an acid resistant ground, which hardens into a thin waxy film across the plate. With a special etching needle I draw through the ground. The drawing reveals the surface of the zinc plate.

When I place the plate into a bath of nitric acid the acid etches into the exposed lines on the plate. I then put the plate in the acid for up to an hour. (The darker I want the lines to print, the deeper I will etch them.)

Cleaning the ground off the plate with turpentine is the next step after I remove the plate from the acid. The clean plate now has etched lines where the scratches exposed the zinc to the acid. I force ink into these etched lines using a piece of cardboard or a stiff plastic spatula and carefully wipe away any excess ink with scrim, the plate is set face-up on a press. I lay damp paper over the plate and place the special blankets over this. I then turn the wheel of the press and when I'm done I have a print of the lines that I etched.

What makes my work fluid and free is a technique called SUGAR LIFTING. The sugar lift process appeals to me because it is so spontaneous. I use a solution of India ink, sugar and soap with which I brush freely onto the plate.

When dry, the plate is covered with an acid-resistant varnish. When the varnish is dry the plate is sub- merged in hot water, which causes the sugar to swell and lift off exposing the metal. To achieve textures like brushstrokes I add an aquatint ground on the lifted design.

AQUATINT produces tones from light grey to deep black. A fine mist of resin is gently shaken over the plate and then burnt on. The acid will etch the plate where it is not protected by the resin. The etched part of the plate will retain ink during the printing process. The design is applied to the plate by using a "stop-out" varnish to protect the plate where it is not to be etched. The plate may be "stopped-out" and etched as many times as are necessary to complete the design. The plate is ready to be cleaned, inked and printed.