Andrew Baldwin of Trefeglwys Print Studios, Powys, has developed this innovative and versatile non-toxic etching ground. The main constituent of BIG (Baldwin’s Ink Ground) is ink, and it allows the artist printmaker to experiment with many different effects on their etching plate. Techniques ranging from soft and hard ground, photo etching, marbling, relief etching, sandpaper aquatints, and coffee lift are just a few that can be explored. BIG has been used at the School of Art, University of Aberystwyth, since 2002 and has been adopted in many other private and educational print workshops around the world.
Which colour ground to choose? In fact, both grounds work in the same way and support all processes, from coffee lift to icing sugar aquatint. The colours are a matter of personal preference. Black looks similar to a traditional ground, allowing impressed or inscribed marks to be seen clearly, whereas red makes it easier to see preliminary drawing made on top of the ground.
To remove, use an alkaline citrus cleaner such as Mystrol, or polish off with Brasso.
