The Salesians of Don Bosco educate young people to value excellence and appreciate the beauty of art and culture. This year, we are printing an Etching of what was the Azzure Window, in Dwejra, Gozo. The Etching is by the artist Justin Falzon, he used two etching techniques which are soft-ground etching and aquatint. The edition is printed on 285gr Fabriano Rosaspina Bianca. This limited special edition is being made available to the public as a Christmas distinctive gift. Only 50 original prints each numbered, signed by the artist and framed will be available against a donation of €300. All proceeds will go in aid of St. Patrick's Salesian School, Sliema. To acquire one of these unique Etchings, you can reserve a copy by calling Fr. Charles Cini SDB on 79492555 or by sending an email on [email protected].
Artist Biography
Justin Falzon (b. 1982) is a practicing artist specializing in drawing, painting and printmaking. He is currently based in Malta where he also teaches at the Gozo Visual and Performing Arts School. He studied at the Lorenzo de Medici Art Institute in Florence Italy for four years where he obtained a Degree in Fine Arts. He showed his work both in collective and solo exhibitions, in several countries.
In 2016 two of his etchings were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition, and at the Bankside Gallery, The Masters Etching, both in London, UK.
He was also part of iMprint I,II,&III, a collective exhibition of graphic works by Maltese and international printmakers which is being organised every two years.
Soft Ground Etching
A plate is coated with a slow-drying wax ground which contains tallow that renders it soft. Lines are drawn with a pencil on a paper placed on the plate, pressing through the soft ground. When the paper is lifted from the surface, the soft ground is pulled away from drawn areas, leaving a granular soft line similar to a crayon line. Fabrics, leaves, and other textures can also be pressed onto the ground, leaving an impression that is then etched in acid.
Aquatint
This process creates a tonal field. Particles of acid-resistant material (powdered rosin or lacquer spray) are deposited and fixed to the plate. When the plate is immersed in acid, only the spaces around the particles are etched, forming a granular tone. Depending on the size of the particles and the timing in the acid, a whole tonal range from white to black can be achieved.
Excerpt from Roderick Camilleri - iMprint III