One of the more surprising aspects of printmaking is the importance of removing ink and how that affects the final image.
Once I have used acid to “bite” the plate and create grooves that hold ink I cover the whole thing in ink. I then use a special wiping cloth called scrim, newspaper, tissue paper and my hand to remove ink in some areas and leave it in others. This is a very subjective process and is based on my knowledge of the inks and the plate. The result, after the plate goes through the press, is a very individual image, created by me and requiring my input at every stage.
To Ink or Not to Ink
