Sombra

Drypoint on paper (1/1), 42 x 30 cm, £80

Inside of the milk tetrapack carton

I discovered I could use the silvery inside of a milk tetrapack carton as the drypoint plate. After creating the image, rather than using my hand, I used a wooden spoon to press the paper to the plate to transfer the image. You can barely make out Boxi’s features because he’s standing in the ‘shadows;’ hence, this piece’s title.

Curator’s Note: Drypoint refers to a process of incising a design into a softer metal (usually copper), which also creates a slightly raised ragged edge to the lines known as the burr. Ink is applied to the plate and wiped off. When paper is pressed onto the plate, the ink remaining on this burr gives a velvety look to the print.