Artwork

Paintings | Etchings | Collagraphs

Painting

Leon divides most of his time between painting and printmaking. His painting themes often run in parallel with his prints but the medium allows more exploration of colour and texture. He works mostly in acrylic with some gouache, watercolour and mixed medla. He continues to en joy experimenting in styles and subject matter which delight and excite him. Strong demand for the paintings and fewer pieces executed result in limited availability of these works. (Refer to the publications "Unseen Works from the North Wing" and "The Tiggy Puggenheim Collection" for more detailed information.)

The Etching Process

A thin layer of wax is rolled across a metal plate. A sharp stylus is used to draw and scratch through the wax the many lines and dots that overlay and crisscross to give form, line, tone and texture to the etching. The plate is placed in acid and this solution bites into the exposed metal to form deep furrows and holes that are the unique 3-dimensional characteristics of an etching plate. Thick viscosity ink is squeezed across the plate and forced into the deep holes and lines. The surface of the etched and inked plate is then skilfully wiped clean leaving the ink in the lines only. The plate is then placed on the bed of an etching press with dampened, handmade, acid-free paper laid on top. It is then hand-rolled through the etching press under very heavy pressure. The inking and printing process is repeated for each print. The additional hand colouring and collage is applied to each print which is then editioned, titled, signed and embossed with the Feather Press Fine Art Printing Studio seal.

Print Making

From his Feather Press Fine Art Printing Studio Leon and his manager/wife Moira work with assistants Keiron Hunter and Elly Joel to produce handmade prints using the intaglio process, namely etchings and collagraphs. The age-old process of etching has changed little since Rembrandt's time.

Collagraphs

In the making of a collagraph, the plate preparation differs although the printing process is the same. In this case a resin-based paste is used to coat the supporting plate (board). A surface is created in this process and when dry may be cut, incised or marked in any way to create a pattern or image. These works are more textural and freer than etchings and must be worked quickly becouse of the fast drying time.

Screenprints

Leon's screenprints are prepared in his studios but printed in external screenprinting studios. They offer a capacity for stronger colour and line than the intaglio process. All prints are printed on Velin Arches, handmade cotton pulp paper.Leon Pericles' work may be viewed at a select number of galleries in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. For further information on the purchasing of work, view our Gallery Page.

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