During the last days, I spent quite a lot of energy preparing plates for etching. I am working to prepare a work on paper that will be also a tactile experience, the preparation involves different metals, sanding, and polishing. I am learning how to approach the different surfaces, their acoustic responses, and tensions.
![I am curved on a copper plate, secured to a working table with clamps, holding one side firmly with one hand while scraping off the edge with a machinist's file. I am wearing light fabric gloves with rubber palms.](https://vitalcapacities.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_6560-1024x768.jpg)
![a copper plate and an aluminum one, same sizes on some newspaper. The copper one is more rounded and shiny, the aluminum is sharp edged and opaque.](https://vitalcapacities.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_6589-768x1024.jpg)
![A self portrait in the mirror-like surface of the copper plate right after polishing it, holding my smartphone with two hands, I wanted to document the shape of the plate and its rounded edges.](https://vitalcapacities.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_6590-1024x768.jpg)