Pleasant-Voiced Little Star
2003, 24 in x 24 in
Edition of 5, 2 A.P., 2 unsigned proofs
Aquatint Etching
Named for the Greek muse Calliope, Selasphorus calliope is a hummingbird that translates to Pleasant-Voiced Little Star. At about 3 inches long and 1/10th of an ounce, this tiny hummingbird is the smallest native to the US and Canada. These birds live about 8 years and migrate between the Southwestern US, Mexico, and Central America.
Rhea created a series of hummingbird aquatint etchings by applying nitric acid with a tiny paintbrush in increasingly concentrated solutions. A zinc plate was previously treated with finely misted layers of black spray lacquer with areas “stopped out” to protect the subtle gray tones as they were etched from light to dark. This process is a refinement of a technique called “spit bite” when acid is applied multiple times and etched for several hours into drops of water or saliva.
2003, 24 in x 24 in
Edition of 5, 2 A.P., 2 unsigned proofs
Aquatint Etching
Named for the Greek muse Calliope, Selasphorus calliope is a hummingbird that translates to Pleasant-Voiced Little Star. At about 3 inches long and 1/10th of an ounce, this tiny hummingbird is the smallest native to the US and Canada. These birds live about 8 years and migrate between the Southwestern US, Mexico, and Central America.
Rhea created a series of hummingbird aquatint etchings by applying nitric acid with a tiny paintbrush in increasingly concentrated solutions. A zinc plate was previously treated with finely misted layers of black spray lacquer with areas “stopped out” to protect the subtle gray tones as they were etched from light to dark. This process is a refinement of a technique called “spit bite” when acid is applied multiple times and etched for several hours into drops of water or saliva.