All squared

Continuing with my new sized square print. I'd put a hard ground on but had been too tentative with the line work.
Another hard ground required...

hard ground line work

Much better, the grasses no frame the path, and the line tracing the route taken by walkers makes better sense. Strangely I found it much easier to create fluidity in the lines on this second hard ground, maybe the first set of lines gave me a structure to work with so my mark making could be more relaxed.

Spit bite aquatint

Next I need to sort the confusing shapes in the tree canopy and strengthen the shaping of the path floor. I put an aquatint over the plate and used spit bite to create a variety of tones. Its all a bit flat in places so a bit of gentle scraping is the next step.

"July 6th, Sunday" 20 x 20 cm etching

The scraping and burnishing worked a treat in the distant trees, bringing a bit of light through past the furthest tree trunks, creating a satisfactory focal point. And voila - done!

Squaring up

I enjoyed the size and the square format for my 20:20 print so much I decided to cut down a plate destined for another project and started work on another square, 20 x 20 cm .
The sketch for this was made in the summer back at Westonbirt Arboretum

sketchbook page

This was drawn on a lovely sunny day,sat on the clover dappled grass with loads of butterflies about. 

This path is a quiet spot; the view to the tree trunks is towards one of the main paths.

Free drawn stop out wash, open bite

Some good shapes on the ground and a good starting point in the trees but the focal distance area is a bit of a weird figure like blob which needs bringing under control - softening or obliterating.

Hard ground line

The hard ground line gives me more of an idea about what needs doing in the background, but just like the last print I've been a bit sparse with my line drawing - another hard ground on the way...