Abstract Space is a 30 x 22-inch collagraph–etching–monotype built from my first attempt at creating print plates out of discarded cardboard. After sealing the cardboard with shellac and letting it fully cure, I worked fine, organic lines into the surface using a steel tip. Those etched marks, along with the natural texture of the cardboard, created a complex field of grooves and ridges that held ink in unpredictable, interesting ways. Additional layers of charcoal, collage, and chine-collé—thin papers bonded into the print during the press run—add shifts in color and texture that feel embedded rather than placed on top.

As the piece developed, the surface started getting visually noisy, almost like all the elements were trying to grab attention at the same time. To bring the composition back into balance, I added a solid deep red circle. It acts as a grounding shape—quieting the surrounding activity and giving the rest of the layers something steady to play against.