I have taught printmaking at RIT and at numerous workshops around the country. Presently I am teaching at St. John Fisher College and during the summer at the Artist’s Association on Nantucket.
In my home studio my concentration is on traditional etchings and unique collagraph monoprints. The subject matter is the landscape, both regionally and from my travels abroad.
As a printmaker I use both traditional and innovative techniques in my etchings, collagraphs and monoprints. Each of these original graphic arts methods is used to achieve a particular effect. Etched lines are bitten into a zinc or copper plate with acid wherever the artist has drawn through an acid proof resist. Ink is pressed into these lines and then wiped from the topmost surface of the plate. Dampened paper is placed over the plate and it is turned through an etching press. Each time another impression is pulled, the plate must be re-inked and wiped. Fine line work, detail and a variety of tone and texture are best achieved through the etching techniques of direct bite, soft ground transfer and aquatint. The etching technique of embossing creates a raised impression on the print.
Broader textures, large color fields and greater scale characterize my collagraph prints. This is an additive process wherein a plate is developed by building up textures on the surface of a plastic or masonite plate. The plates can be easily shaped or cut and inked both on the intaglio and relief surfaces. An image can be composed of several segments inked separately and reassembled on the press for printing. In the large unique pieces the image is composed sequentially by overprinting various plates on one paper and then adding elements by direct stenciling. The result is a one of a kind monoprint collagraph. Monoprints, sometimes called the painterly print, are impressions taken from a surface that has been inked and printed only once. Techniques of brushwork, drawing and stencil can all be incorporated into a monoprint. Successive layers of ink add subtlety and variety to these unique original works.
Stop by Main Street Arts to see Elizabeth Durand’s printmaking in our current exhibition, “Celtic Impressions by Three: Seen and Unseen Ireland“.
7 Responses
Hello! I am a huge fan of your artwork and have nine different works of art I have collected years ago and still have them all throughout my home. I smile every time I look at them. They are each so unique and beautiful. Thank you for your bringing your vision to the world through art. You are so talented.
Hello! I am a huge fan of your artwork and have nine different works of art I have collected years ago and still have them all throughout my home. I smile every time I look at them. They are each so unique and beautiful. Thank you for your bringing your vision to the world through art. You are so talented.
Hello! I am Jessica from Michigan and I came across Direction #3/100 and love it so much. I was delighted to see I love the other ones even more and now I have to get a bunny!
It’s funny how life holds on to such wonderful memories …..I was recently going through boxes. I found this small etching which I purchased in the 70’s. I know that because I have 2 children born in the early 70’s and this reminded me of them ( it is so sweet and I saw my children in that etching). It’s called “Together” 119/150 and signed by E.K. Durand. It is still wrapped. I just loved it and still do, now I have 2 grandchildren in their 20’s.! ….this still works. When I came across this, I had to do some research ….. so here I am. Any record of this on file? Now must be framed with this story… who knows…wonderful to pass on and on. Question still remains..how it ended up in a box and never framed?
I was born and raised in Rochester, NY. In 1966 after college, I lived in NYC, Tucson, SF, CT. and have now retired in Tucson. I hated Rochester when I lived there but now it has quite a draw for me. My husband and I visit every couple of years. A friend who still lives in New York State frequently visits family in Rochester. She purchased one of your prints for me, the Genesee Gateway. I am very familiar with the bridge and original skyline as I spent many hours at the main Rochester library. I even remember riding the old subway that ran through that area. Being a tomboy, I played in several areas along the Genesee River. Both my husband and I love the print. The next time we visit Rochester we’d like to purchase another print. Have you printed anything related to the Ontario Beach Park and the antique carousel? Is there a place we can see them online?
Hi; I picked up a matted print at a garage sale, “Beach Walk II” by Elizabeth King Durand, 24/150. (This is in Flagstaff, AZ, 7000 feet above sea level. We miss oceans). My husband and I really like it, and we have reframed the print. I just thought you’d like to know that it now has a good home. Can you perhaps suggest a print on the same theme with which to accompany our print? Thank you.
Adrienne Wasserman
Hello! I am Michelle Teich and I go to Webster Schroeder High School. I would like to invite you to the Eco Expo at the Memorial Art Gallery. It is on November 19th from 9am to 6pm. We are looking for people who make or sell eco-friendly products that are made from renewable/recycled/sustainable materials. We were wondering if you would be interested in setting up a table to sell or display your items at the event. The cost is $100 for table space. Over 100 vendors will be attending to sell their items and we hope you can be part of it! Several students from the Webster community are running this event to fundraise for an ecotourism trip to Costa Rica next summer. If you are interested please email me back or call me at (585)-236-0535. Or, contact the event coordinator, Diane Digravio for more information but let her know that I initially contacted you. Her number is (585)-615-2980 and her email is diane_digravio@webstercsd.org. Thank you so much! -Michelle Teich