Beth Weintraub
Bay Area artist, Beth Weintraub takes a rigid, historical printmaking process into today’s modern world. Rejecting the idea that printing is only for repetitious editions of identical paper images, Weintraub takes extra time to print editions that are varied in color, where no two are alike. The metal plates are all original, hand painted etchings. Photography and digital devices are not used.
Educated at Sarah Lawrence College in the 1980’s, Beth Weintraub studied writing, theatrical production and Intaglio etching. Working for Broadway costume designers in New York for several years, Weintraub came to California where she spent five seasons at the San Francisco Opera sculpting body armor and masks. Leaving the Opera to begin working as an artist full time, etchings became her focus. Utilizing the etched metal as well as the prints, Weintraub conceived a series of projects showing both sides of the etching process.
Style:
Beth Weintraub is obsessed with the ugly parts of nature, hiding just beneath the surface.
Usually this comes in the form of insects and botanicals. Looking very closely Beth finds some rather shocking reproductive elements, as well as designs to help trap prey or provide
self-protection. Without using photography or any digital reproduction, her stylized free-hand designs show images of ‘plant privates’ with contrast between texture and silhouette.
Process:
Intaglio etching uses acid to etch images into metal. Ground is applied to freshly polished metal with a brush or a roller after which the plate is immersed in acid. This is called an aquatint. Areas exposed to acid are eaten away, creating pitted areas and deep lines. Ink is then worked into the etched areas to print the plate. Etched plates are considered coveted and rare. Weintraub makes plates from metal that develops a contrasting patina. This makes them particularly beautiful.