Background, Inspiration, & Etching Process

My art career began one summer when our daughter was in five weddings and she asked if I might create an etching as a gift for the bride and groom.

The creations with names and initial were such a big hit that people told me that I should be selling them.  A number of wedding gifts were created and then we bought a tent, a few tables, and had the first real show on a windy hill overlooking a city park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Those first etchings were in black and white.  Since then, I have progressed to creating with foils of silver, gold, and copper, while adding colored ink to the white scratch boards.

I have been etching on scratch board for over twenty-five years.  Receiving my B.A. in art education from Drake University allowed me to teach Art at the Central Middle School in Eden Prairie for sixteen years.  During that time, I taught students the process of etching on scratchboard which became my favorite medium.

Inspiration

Ideas just come to me. I see a frame, a scene in nature, a photograph, or a dream and know what I want to etch.  As I’m creating, the vision always changes a little and sometimes I’m even surprised by the final creation.  My trusted authority is my husband.  He isn’t an artist but he knows what he likes and, oh yes, he has opinions.  Sometimes I actually take his advice.

I have been fortunate to be a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists and have worked with a number of masters scratchboard artists.  Their encouragement and suggestions enlightened me to refine my techniques and create a number of my most recent etchings.

Etching Process

The medium is Ampersand white, or copper, silver, gold scratchboard.

Under a large lighted magnifying glass, I use multiple size stylus, dental tools, and even hypodermic needles to achieve a very detailed effect when creating my etchings,  Using these tools, I create a wide variety of two dimensional subjects, such as dragon flies, loons, butterflies, humming birds, flowers, Koi, and Art Deco pieces.  These subjects are created by blending precision drawing, detailed etching, and hues of colored ink into a single piece of framed art.  This process is labor intensive while providing a challenging and rewarding experience.