GYRO

Translating Thompson's sculptural ideas into print can be a daunting task. The three copper plates for GYRO were made using a water jet cutting machine using information scanned from shapes cut in cardboard by the artist. Master printer James Stroud then applied an even aquatint to the surfaces of each plate and etched them to 100% saturation. The plates were then inked and wiped in the traditional way with one color and then, before being printed, rolled with another contrasting color using a large roller. When run through the etching press with great pressure, the two color colors mix but in a way that allows the intaglio color assert itself more along the perimeter, an as yet unexplained phenomenon. However this lucky 'accident' offers the suggestion of volume similar to that in the artist's wall sculptures.