Pigeon Cove. - Etching with spitbite - 2009 - 19.5 " x25.5 " - Edition 30 - $950

This is the Cape Ann Tool factory, located in Pigeon Cove in Rockport, MA. This is an amazing location, I've done several drawings here so far and there are countless interesting subjects still remaining on the site. This particular print was based on a drawing I did plein aire over the course of four days in late October 2008. The etching was developed in the studio over the course of about two months. This is the first etching I developed as a Gloucester resident, and as such it represented a lot of big changes for me - new studio, new house, and new methods of working.

As usual, this was realized primarily using hardground etching and extensive burnishing, however I used just a touch of spitbite aquatint to add a little texture to the white corrugated wall at center-right. I haven't used spitbite in years, but there's a certain excitement inherent in using a method over which I have virtually no control and I'll continue mixing methods in the future, in this sort of limited way.

Below are a few details of what I consider to be some of the print's more interesting areas:

The preparatory drawing, on purple-toned paper:

And finally, a photo I took of the site while I was out drawing:

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