Female Ruby Throat
2003, 24 in x 24 in
Edition of 5, 1 A.P., 3 unsigned proofs
Aquatint Etching
This female hummingbird with water droplets is emerging from a bath. While working at Beluga Press Art Studio during a summer academic break, Rhea created a series of hummingbird aquatint etchings by applying nitric acid with a tiny paintbrush in increasingly concentrated solutions. A zinc plate was previously treated with finely misted layers of black spray lacquer with areas “stopped out” to protect the subtle gray tones as they were etched from light to dark. This process is a refinement of a technique called “spit bite” when acid is applied multiple times and etched for several hours into drops of water or saliva.
2003, 24 in x 24 in
Edition of 5, 1 A.P., 3 unsigned proofs
Aquatint Etching
This female hummingbird with water droplets is emerging from a bath. While working at Beluga Press Art Studio during a summer academic break, Rhea created a series of hummingbird aquatint etchings by applying nitric acid with a tiny paintbrush in increasingly concentrated solutions. A zinc plate was previously treated with finely misted layers of black spray lacquer with areas “stopped out” to protect the subtle gray tones as they were etched from light to dark. This process is a refinement of a technique called “spit bite” when acid is applied multiple times and etched for several hours into drops of water or saliva.