Photo : Paris-Ateliers
Engraving Workshop: Aquatint
A pictorial approach to aquatint: intaglio and etching
Paris-Ateliers / PAJOL (Paris 18th)
About
Prerequisites: Practice in intaglio engraving and minimal experience in etching and aquatint techniques.
Aquatint is an etching process that produces effects comparable to a wash drawing on a metal plate by using a resin powder grain that resists the mordant, allowing for the creation of different shades of gray depending on the acid's bite time on the plate.
This workshop focuses on deepening the understanding of the various stages of the aquatint technique. The transparency-based layering of several successive aquatints, each with different bite times, allows us to significantly broaden the spectrum of values from white to black, including all the subtleties of grays engraved on a single plate.
This progressive search for deep, nuanced blacks in wash, characteristic of the aquatint technique, invites us—while remaining within the realm of engraving—to a gestural practice close to that of a painter.
Materials:
Each student must bring a 20 x 30 cm copper plate as well as at least two projects (drawing or photo) in the same format as the plate.
Keep in mind that this image will be reversed when printed on paper. Remember to invert your project in a mirror image.
Finally, if you wish to keep your original drawing or photo intact, be sure to make a copy, as you will be required to draw on it to transfer your design onto the plate.
Instructor: Pablo Flaiszman
Number of spots: 8 people
Price: €460 (Paris-Ateliers members receive a 10% discount on workshop prices).
Personal Training Price: €1200 incl. tax
Dates: February 15 to 19, 2027
Schedule: from 10 am to 5 pm with a lunch break between 1 pm and 2 pm.
Information via email at public@paris-ateliers.org or at 01 44 61 87 80
Our take on this event
Forget the rigidity of line engraving and discover how to capture the fluid transparency of a wash painting directly onto metal. This deep dive into aquatint is tailored for those who already have a solid foundation in intaglio and are eager to experiment with complex tonal values. By layering your biting times, you will learn to craft textures that look more like ink-drawn illustrations than traditional metal prints.
Join Pablo Flaiszman at Paris-Ateliers PAJOL from 15 to 19 February 2027 for an intensive deep dive into aquatint engraving. Designed for those already comfortable with intaglio techniques, this five-day course focuses on mastering the chemical biting process to achieve rich, painterly grey tones. You will learn to layer multiple aquatints on a single copper plate to expand your tonal range. The sessions are limited to 8 attendees, aged 16 and up. Sessions run daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Please prepare your copper plate and reference drawings beforehand to make the most of this technical exploration.
This workshop offers an in-depth study of aquatint, an etching technique that uses resin powder to create wash-like effects on metal plates. Participants are expected to have prior experience with intaglio processes and a basic understanding of etching. Under the guidance of Pablo Flaiszman, you will explore how to manipulate acid exposure times to create complex, nuanced textures and deep blacks, approaching the plate with the expressive gestures of a painter.
The course takes place from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027, between 10:00 and 17:00, with a lunch break from 13:00 to 14:00. Enrollment is capped at 8 people to ensure quality instruction. You must bring a 20 x 30 cm copper plate and two projects (drawings or photos) in the same dimensions. Remember that your image will be reversed upon printing, so please prepare mirror-image copies of your source material.
The standard fee is 460 €, with a 10% discount for registered members of Paris-Ateliers. A professional training rate of 1200 € (incl. tax) is also available. This course is open to anyone aged 16 or older.
