I recently visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium and spent time with my favorite octopus. I love how they push up against the glass and show their tentacles . This position inspired my etching and I mixed a custom "in your face" pacific red ink to go with the pose. I find that the time it takes for me to prepare a plate for etching and follow through with printing an edition is a labor of love. I worry about the ocean and how climate change is affecting its residents. The octopus is a smart, fascinating creature and the Giant Pacific Octopus is one of our west coast representatives.
Earlier this year I decided to participate in a print exchange. The parameters included a maximum paper size of 8”x10”. I decided on a 5”x7” copper plate and began to work on an octopus. I started with a hard ground drawing and then added aquatints. I kept printing proofs , making changes to the plate and adding more aquatint and my octopus took shape. The final edition has 25 prints that I am sending to New York . There are 20 artists participating so eventually I will receive 20 prints by both New York and California printmakers.
