Etching 'Bombastic Side Eye Emily' by Donna Volta Newmen

Donna Volta Newmen (*1990 in Chemnitz) is a visual artist whose work merges traditional intaglio printing with interdisciplinary methods across paper and film. Focusing on portraiture, she explores themes of identity, power, and historical memory. Her portraits challenge conventional ideals and offer new perspectives through narratives of resistance and vulnerability.

Newmen often integrates the textures of plants, merging botanical elements with printmaking techniques. Her works reveal subtle affinities between plant and person, intertwining organic forms with human presence.

Respecting the individuality and complexity of her subjects – drawn from history, myth, or fiction – she avoids common editions by continuously modifying the plate, layering intaglio techniques with painterly monotype elements to create one-off mono-prints or varied editions, each revealing a different facet of character.

Raised in a printmaking atelier, Newmen studied fine art and earned her MA in Fine Art and Design from the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam in 2019. In recent years, she has created works and projects for exhibitions in Germany and abroad, including at the Museum Gunzenhauser / KunstsammlungenChemnitz, Stuttgart Ballet, Kunstverein Wagenhalle Stuttgart, soft power Berlin, Istanbul Design Biennial, Performance Philosophy Biennale Amsterdam, and the British Film Institute.

Etching is a printmaking process in which the artist uses a smooth metal plate. This plate is coated with an acid-resistant waxy substance called a ground. The artist then creates a design by drawing into the ground with a fine etching needle. This scrapes away the ground to expose the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which eats into the exposed areas, creating grooves in the exposed metal. The remaining ground is cleaned off the plate.

The artist inks and wipes the plate, leaving the ink only in the etched image. A damp sheet of paper is then placed on top of the inked plate. The plate and paper are passed through an etching press, transferring the image to the paper.

This intaglio printing technique originated in medieval Europe. It was one of the most important printmaking techniques of the old masters. Aquatint is a variant of etching that uses acid-resistand resin to create tonal effects.

Our studio picks are works of art that we acquire directly from artists. We value the work of these artists for their artistic expression and technical skill. These prints are available in a small limited edition. The production process of the works is documented and traceable. You will receive a certificate of authenticity when you purchase a FRIDAY BIRD Studio Pick.