Frequent Flyer

by Mark Phillips

Colored Pencil and Gauche on Intaglio Etching

Originally this was a print of a plate that I created a random texture on to use underneath another image. But the image was not successful and I put the plate aside. Later I began working to resolve the image by drawing into the print, seeing which way to take the image. When I'm working on a print, at each state of the image, I pull two prints and draw on one to plan my changes to the plate. Since this plate was so random I had several ways I could take it. I continued with the drawing and liked what was happening, added some gauche and ended up with a finished drawing. So I pulled a couple more and began exploring other avenues I had dismissed in the first image. So far I have 30 images in this series. The plate is a 6" x 9" intaglio printed on Arches Cover Buff with blue/black ink. Like in so many things it's all in the eye of the beholder. All images use bits of this base to key off of for inspiration. I turned the print in all directions until I had an area that I thought was interesting. By pushing and pulling edges and manipulating positive and negative shape anything is possible.