Organic Staining

One of the most satisfying aspects of completing a print is staining it for the first time. It's a step that adds depth and character to the final product, and also a tangibility which I particularly enjoy.

For my staining process, I only expose the print to an organic tea stain for 30 seconds before carefully pulling it away and allowing 10 seconds for any excess to run off. The print is swiftly immersed in clean water and agitated for a full minute before being transferred to a secondary clean bath.

This method effectively arrests the staining process, providing me with a level of control over the tonal shifts.

Personally, I prefer a subtle warm shift in my prints, aiming for 2-5%. This slight alteration softens the overall aesthetic of the paper, especially in the exposed portions where contrasting areas can appear quite stark.

Unlike cotton rag paper, which I used in N1, matte fibre paper offers more forgiveness in this process. Cotton fibres tend to absorb the stain rapidly, resulting in strong yellows in as little as 6 seconds—making control over toning challenging.