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The drama of drypoint
When artists talk about diamonds, needles, and burrs, they're
talking about drypoint. Drypoints are made by carving an image into a
matrix (usually a metal or plastic plate) with a very sharp, hard steel
tool with a diamond-tipped point called a needle. As the drypoint
needle digs into the surface of the plate, it kicks up a burr of the
metal or plastic — much as a plow creates furrows in the earth.
When the plate is inked and printed, the burr prints as a dramatic,
inky echo of the scratched lines. The burr may wear down quickly
because it is above the surface of the plate instead of below it —
in which case only the first few impressions printed from the drypoint
plate will have the richness of line and texture that the artist
intends. However, some artists use steel-faced plates, which are better
for preserving the burr.
The burr effect
An experienced drypoint artist incorporates and manipulates the burr
for maximum effect. Below are some examples of drypoints available from
NextMonet. Note the shadowy areas created by the burr —
surrounding the figure drawing, for example. Click on any image to
learn more about the individual artwork.
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| Dan McCleary |
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Nathan Oliveira |
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Michael Gregory |
Select any of the printmaking techniques listed here in order of
historical development to learn more about it:
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