Mezzotints and the World's Largest Song Bird

MEZZOTINTS

The Process: 
The mezzotint was invented in the 1700’s, and it  is a laborious process which creates exquisite results. Rather than using acids to work the plate, Mezzotint is entirely done with hand tools.  The whole surface of a metal plate is roughened evenly, with a mezzotint rocker (hours of work!!).

the mezzotint rocker has a series of lines that will create microdots  

vintage Mezzotint rocker in use

If the plate were printed at this point it would show as solid black. The image is then created by selectively burnishing areas of the surface of the metal plate with metal tools, called the Scraper and Burnisher.  The smooth parts will print lighter than those areas not smoothed by the burnishing tool. The Burnisher has a smooth, polished, round end, which flattens the minutely protruding points of roughened surface of the metal printing plate. 

a great example of Mezzotint burnishing www.nancyfarmer.net

Areas smoothed completely flat will not hold ink at all and areas will print as the white. By varying the degree of smoothing, mid-tones between black and white can be created. This is called working from "dark to light", or the "subtractive" method. I also add engraving lines as needed.

My Mezzotint prints
I have not done many Mezzotints. I did a couple in school but didn't do anymore because the cost of the Mezzotint Rockers was so high (several hundred each $$$). However, I found a couple rockers mislabeled on eBay and I won the auction. My inspiration for these two small prints was the distant calls of ravens. I had always loved the sound of ravens in the deep forests of Alaska.  I envisioned two fighters sparring in a boxing ring, each using calls as vocal jabs. Ravens are the world's largest songbirds!!

The Forest is pierced by the Raven’s Call
Beak extended, feathers unfurled,
They listen for the next hurled insult.
Each is armored against the onslaught,
Their hoarse-throated calls resonated with defiance.

SPARRING - Raven series, Mezzotint on Copper Plate, with  Engraving, 3 x 4 inch 2012

RAVEN’S CALL- Raven series, Mezzotint, with Drypoint and Engraving, 4 x 5 inch 2012