Rare Etchings by artist Roger Bansemer done in the 1970's

THE ETCHING PROCESS

I have been painting for over 40 years and in earlier times I had an interest in etchings. During the 1970's I created quite a few. The making of an etching is a long and tedious process which simply put includes coating a zinc or copper plate with a wax and then drawing into the wax with a sharp object. The plate is then placed in a solution of Nitric acid and the acid will etch a groove in the plate wherever the wax was removed. Leaving it in the acid for a few seconds produces a fine line. Leave it longer and the line gets larger. Creating the tones is done by sprinkling a fine wax over the plate, heating it so the wax melts a bit and the acid will etch around the areas where there was no wax leaving a very fine pebble texture which will then hold ink.

After that process is complete, each plate then has to be carefully heated a bit and ink applied and wiped clean with the use of a cloth and the back of the hand. The paper is soaked in water and then dried somewhat. When it has dried and is just damp, the paper is placed on top of the inked etching and rolled through a heavy press by hand.

The result, if all goes well, is an etching...each numbered and each slightly different.

WHY THEY ARE HERE

These etchings were all done in the 1970's and very few are left. They represent early Bansemer works and are quite scarce. As I get older, I'm putting some of my early works on the market. The numbers of the prints are very limited, some editions were as small as 20 while other editions were numbered to 125 although that many prints were never pulled.

I hope you enjoy looking at these rare works of art.
Roger Bansemer

To make a purchase
call 727-797-4658

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	This etching was done after visiting Cosby, Tennessee. Back then it was known around the mountains as the place to go to get moonshine. It had many old homesteads such as this one. Title: Cosby Edition of 20 Size: 3.5 x 5 inches Date: 1977 Price $125
	Living in Florida since a boy, cypress trees were common. More common then than now but I was always fascinated by their root system and beauty. Untitled Edition of 25 Size: 5.75 x 6 inches Date: 1976 Price $125
	A small etching of a Florida beach with some sea oats. This one is an artist proof. Untitled Date: 1978 Edition of 20 Size: 2.5 x 2 inches Price $65
	Every town has a memorable character and this was the town character for Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I worked there for several summers back in the early 70's and got to know this man. His name was Garfield and he always carried around a stick with all kinds of ribbons, buttons, and tiny objects attached to it. He was truly a one of a kind. Title" Garfield Edition of 20 Size: 2.75 x 3.5 inches Date: 1977 Price $100
	Another mountain etching with a homestead tucked away in the hills. Title: Hills Edition of 20 Size: 3.5 x 3.25 inches Date: 1978 Price $85
	This etching is titled "Wares Valley" and is near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I liked the way the crooked angles complimented the hills. Title: Ware Valley Date: 1977 Size: 4 x 5.5 inches Price $125
	Sea oats with an Australian pine tree in the background. This was always one of my favorite etchings. Sold Out
	A lone mangrove on the beach with some grasses and a few gentle waves on the right. Price $75
	I worked in New Orleans for a few weeks during the 70's and did this etching of one of the buildings. Untitled Date: 1976 Edition of 30 Size 2.5 x 3 inches Price $50
	There are only a few of these etchings. It was done from Tarpon Springs, Florida and has one of my favorite trees in the background, the Australian pine. It is a lovely little composition. Untitled Date: 1976 4.5 x 6 inches Price $125
	This is a sailboat I observed in Tampa Bay. I've also done several paintings of this same boat. The etching has large billowing cumulous clouds in the background. Price $85
	A favorite etching of mine, this sailboat sits moored in calm water and focuses on the reflections. Title: No Wake Edition of 25 Size: 3.5 x 5.5 inches Price $100