I had been an admirer of the drawings and lithographs of Spanish Artist, Roberto Gonzalez, so when he came and asked to make an etching with me in 1985 I was more than happy. He had admired my photographic etching process and wanted to make a work using the same process with one of his photographs. We made the etching, Invocation, and although he was very happy with the outcome, I knew we could do better. What I had enjoyed about his work was his amazing draftsmanship and I proposed a way of working that would include drawing up three plates through a soft ground using a different colour pencil for each plate – and the plates were huge. The three polished steel plates were etched in acid and then printed in red, yellow and prussian blue in perfect register to create the image. The image is of the artist dreaming of his friend Carlos and is inspired by a painting by Antonio de Pereda that is in the collection of the art academy in Madrid. One of the most impressive soft ground etchings I have ever seen.

John Mackechnie – Collaborative Printer