Space Shuttle Launch – Mezzotint Printmaking Project

Documenting the creating of a new Mezzotint print of a space shuttle launch. In this video I prepare a copper plate and rock it with a Mezzotint rocker. I scrape, burnish and finally print the plate. Color is added using relief ink and making a “rainbow roll” onto the plate.  I will make a follow up video showing the completed series when I complete it.

Here are some related videos about mezzotint tools:

Mezzotint Printmaking tools: http://youtu.be/rpbt6tjjjZE

Mezzotint Rocker: http://youtu.be/Sj5DyJwypI0

Here are a few of the thumbnail sketches that I made when I was developing the idea.

This is what the finished rocked plate looks like up close. Each burr and groove hold ink. I use a mezzotint rocker on a rocking jig to make passes across the plate. I rock in 12 directions, two passes each.