Researchers:  Katelyn St. John and Olivia Stanislaus, 2016

White Ground (or Soap Ground) is a wonderful intaglio mark making technique whereby a soapy, paint like formula is painted onto a metal plate to create light values.  It dissolves during the etching process, giving beautiful, unpredictable tonal effects. 

Our interest was in finding non-toxic and easily accessible replacements for the different components of a traditional White Ground. We were looking for a solution that mimics the reticulation, texture, tonality and breakdown of the original recipe, while also finding alternatives to Ivory Snow Flake Soap and powdered titanium white pigment. 

Ivory Snow Flake Soap has been phased out by the company that makes it, making it harder and harder to find until the available supply will ultimately be gone. Titanium powder, when breathed in, is toxic and harmful to our lungs and throat, especially with prolonged and repeated exposure. Our task was to find substitutes that performed like the orginal White Ground formula.