Etchings: 1980-1987,
Hand-printed by
Douglas Taylor
Most of the more than fifty images created with the intaglio etching process during those seven years are no longer available. The entire edition of most of the images was sold by the artist or various galleries during that period. The images currently available are noted in the below portfolio.
All images were created on metal plates, and printed as intaglio prints in small editions by Douglas E. Taylor. All images depict nature, inspired by experiences in the southwest and the Rocky Mountains.
What are Etchings & Intaglio Prints?
The images are created by allowing acid to etch into the zinc metal printing plate. Pits, crevices, recessed lines etched into the plate surface will hold an oil-based printmaking ink defining an image. The ink is pushed into those etched lines or shapes. Any ink left on the surface of the plate was skillfully wiped off. Etchings are commonly classified as "intaglio" prints. Intaglio is Italian for incised or engraved, carved into a printing plate surface.
Intaglio is the opposite process of a "relief" print. A relief print is when the surface is inked and the ink is skillfully omitted, usually with rollers or brayers, from the incised lines or shapes.
Intaglio etching press
For every impression the printing plate has to be re-inked and re-wiped, creating a certain level of consistency. After printing, the artist signs, numbers, and catalogs the print. These are an edition of only 50 prints with no more than 5 artist proofs created. The artist proof is produced by the artist-printmaker to make certain that a desirable consistency can be produced before the actual edition printing.
The inked plate is placed on a press-bed with a heavy rag (archival) dampened paper over the plate. Three special felt blankets are placed on top of the paper and plate to provide cushioning. All of those elements (inked plate, paper, and felt blankets) are compressed as they roll through two heavy rollers on an intaglio etching press. The pressure pushes the soft paper into the plate lifting the ink out of the incised lines and markings on the plate to reproduce a mirror image of the plate image.
To purchase see bottom of this page.
Firstlight (aspen and Douglas Fir trees), Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 12 x 8-inch plate with two ink colors, on white rag printmaking paper, $250 unframed
Cactus Triad (barrel cactus) Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 12 x 8-inch plate with three ink colors, on cream rag printmaking paper, $250 unframed
Beaver Tail (beaver tail cactus) Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 12 x 8-inch plate with two ink colors plus hand-coloring on the buds, on cream rag printmaking paper, $250 unframed
Century Plant (century plant cactus) Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 8.5 x 8-inch plate with two ink colors, on cream rag printmaking paper, height can be expanded with white space, $250 unframed
Saguaro Dawn (saguaro cactus) Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 6 x 8-inch plate with two ink colors, on cream rag printmaking paper, $200 unframed
Spring Dawn (Rocky Mountains) Aquatint etching, edition of only 75, one 4 x 6.25-inch plate with five ink colors and four inked plates and one embossed plate with stars, on light gray rag printmaking paper, $225 unframed
The Odyssey (desert tortoise and petroglyphs) Aquatint etching, edition of only 50, one 9 x 12-inch plate with two ink colors and two plates, on tan rag printmaking paper, $250 unframed
A New Day, only a few available, $59 each
Changing, only a few available, $59 each
Canyon, (The Grand Canyon) only a few available, $125 each
Fox Tails, only a few available, $59 each
There are only a few left of the Odyssey, a two-plate registered image, $250 each;
and Prickly Pear Cactus, $49 each.
There are only a few left of Mark Twain, $110; Spirits Rise, $79; and Snow, $100 each.
There are only a few left of A New Day, $59; Foxtails, $59; Seeking the Sun, $59; and Flower that Flies, $79 each. Gather in the Sunshine, recently SOLD OUT!
There is only one left of The Sun, $95!
Purchase:
We accept credit cards over the phone (Please leave a message and I will return your call.)
Currently, we are not charging for domestic shipping of these original etchings or digital prints.
There is also no sales tax collected in Montana. Contact