Key West prints, Hemingway cats prints, original artwork, etchings, fishing prints Lighthouses, key West attrations, hand colored prints

What is an Original Etching?

Etchings are prints, but not reproductions. Therefore they are considered "Originals" because there are no two prints that look exactly the same.

First an image is drawn on a coated zinc plate. With a special etching needle I scratch through the coating which exposes the metal underneath. Then I place the plate into a nitric acid bath which bites the design into the plate. (Please click on the example on the right)

Then I ink the plate with one or more colors, wipe it off so that the ink only stays in the groves of the plate. The way how the ink is wiped off gives the print its special character. This is why no two prints are exactly the same.

Next I make the print with an etching press. The imprint of the plate can be felt on each print. This procedure has to be repeated with each print. (A whole lot of elbow grease).

If I took one of my prints to a printer to make copies of it, I would call it a reproduction and each copy would look just the same as the Original.

If you order my prints you will get an Original Etching. I use the plates multiple times, but no other print will look exactly like yours.