A Winter's Eve, A line etching on copper

Children playing, A section of a mural in terra cotta clay

Swimmers: Modelled in Terracotta clay & fired

The inspiration for Cora's work comes from the natural environment: figures or animals in harmony with trees, water, peat moors, forests and old buildings; the emphasis is on pattern, texture and contrast of form & shape. She has a special interest in depicting the unspoilt environment in preservation & conservation. She incorporates these elements in her printmaking and ceramics.

Cora was professionally trained in Ceramic Sculpture & Etching at Kingston upon Thames University's College of Art achieving a first class honours, and then a post graduate degree at the Royal College of Art in London & year studying for the Art Teachers Diploma at Goldsmith’s College of Art. After many years experience lecturing in Adult & Further Education, she now designs and makes Ceramic Sculpture, engraved Ceramic Plaques, Etchings, Aquatints & Transfer printed China. She is now involved in Community Art projects in the local area and teaching.

CERAMICS & SCULPTURE

She is now concentrating on ceramics & sculpture, for example; 3D sculptures, relief sculptural panels, garden sculptures & fountains, also large commemorative slipware plaques.

Printmaking

The copper plate is coated with an acid resistant wax. The design is drawn with a needle that removes the coating but does not cut into the metal. The plate is 'bitten' in an acid bath. The corrosive action is regulated by painting 'stopping out ‘varnish' on areas of the design and by the length of time the plate is in the acid.

PRINTMAKING - Aquatint:

During theetching process, a thin layer of resin dust is laid on the plate instead of wax. Each particle of resin protects part of the plate but allows the acid free action in between. A grainy texture is formed on the plate that holds the ink and when printed forms a tone.

Intaglio Printing

When the process is complete, each print is coloured by hand & printed on cotton rag paper as a limited edition. The plate is inked by covering the whole surface with oil based 'ink', then wiping with stiff muslin to remove the surplus from the plate but leave it in the lines. The plate is then laid face up on the bed of the press (a travelling bed passing between heavy rollers). The print is formed by squeezing previously dampened paper into the lines under pressure to pick up the ink. This entire process must be repeated for each print. When the printing is complete the plate is destroyed. Thus every edition consists of original prints each part of a numbered limited edition and sold as original works of art. This is unlike many modern day prints that are churned out in large numbers by photo reproduction processes.

Cora Stock ARCA