Experimental Etching

In this introductory studio course students will explore etching as a dynamic medium in contemporary art. For the first half of the course students will learn to combine foundational etching techniques with alternative and mixed-media processes through demonstrations and hands-on experimentation. Processes will include hard ground, soft ground, spray paint aquatint, photo transfer on copper plates, and digital tools for etching. In the second half of the course students will design and complete individual etching projects that integrate these processes to develop their personal ideas and voice. Course components include skill-building in traditional and non-traditional etching methods, group discussions, critiques, visits to the Middlebury College Museum of Art, examples drawn from historical and contemporary printmakers, and self-designed projects.