Inking up the plate is one of the most exciting parts for me about using printmaking to make work. on a relief plate, as the roller moves across it reveals dramatically the cuts and articulates the intended shapes for the first time.
During the cutting process you can slant the plate this way and that, under light to highlight what’s there, but its like looking through a mirror to a subject reflected in a mirror beyond.
Taking the first proof in constrast can be a slight anti climax as you realise where more cutting is needed, too much cutting went on, and an inconsistency of ink over parts…
