Winfrey Hearst — “My interest in art led to my degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and to additional studies in ceramics at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and in printmaking at the Institute of Experimental Printmaking in Santa Cruz, California.

“Etching, in particular, has been my primary focus. I etch my image directly onto a zinc plate using nitric acid which attacks metal left unprotected by acid-resistant materials. The length of time in the acid usually determines the lightness of darkness of a line or of a tonal area. After cleaning, the resulting depressions in the plate are inked, the surface of the plate is wiped, and the ink in the plate is transferred onto a sheet of dampened paper under extreme pressure using an etching press. For color work, I can use additional plates and printings. Even with as much control as can be possible in this process, the materials involved and the effects of the acid on the metal plate seem to work together to take on a life of their own. Pulling an impression from a new plate is like opening a gift.

“I also enjoy working with pastels. This is a very immediate medium with lots of freedom. I think that it balances well with the more labor-intensive qualities of printmaking.

“Time spent in the deserts of the Southwest and the forests of Montana contribute to my love of nature and landscape as well as other subjects.”