Today I found a twig in the snow at the end of my snowshoe though the woods. It stopped me and I picked it up with the hopes of using it as a stenciling tool for printmaking.
It is much thicker than what I usually use for found object stencils when gelatin printmaking. But I gently flattened it the best I could.
I had a small 5″ x 7″ plate, so I randomly printed on a sack cloth yellow, orange and brown inks.
I tried using the twig in the traditional way, as a masking stencil. And it was ok, but I did not love the impression. So I tried using it as a “rubbing” tool. I place it under the fabric and gently rolled over the area of the fabric with an inked brayer. That approach worked pretty well.
So I learned that if something inspires me, then keep playing with the possibilities until it works. Keep on playing!
Just 12 days until Monoprinting on Fabric, the online printmaking course with ink, fabric and the homemade glycerin and gelatin plate. Enjoy a short video of monoprinted fabric.
Join us in the 4 week printmaking class. Check out the details and sign up at Make Monotypes.com
Are you ready to join us in this online printmaking class? Class starts Jan 12th. Register today and start gathering your supplies.
If you look closely you can see the texture of the fabric in this little print. It is an experiment in using acrylic paint. The paint dries very fast and that makes it hard to plan and to get a strong transfer of color. I topped this one off with some thermofax screen printing.
I like to work on piece of the print at different times. This “saves some whites” or lights. Often when layer and masking the monotype print can get dark or muddy after just a few layers. Don’t you just love the “bubble” on the left side. It is one of my favorite tools – a floor mop sponge.
I love the delicate marks that are possible when printing with the gelatin plate and ink. These prints were all made without a press and with mere hand pressure.
I have had these dress stencils for years. I cut paper doll style dresses from paper, plastic, wire mesh and bubble wrap. The texture of the stencil is captured in what I refer to as the detailed impression. It is generally the impression that is created by the ink that lies under the masking stencils.
I have been doing what I call palette prints. They are clean up prints at the end of a session. I just have fun with the left over ink. The background in this monoprint is a palette print.
Lots going on in this simple print on fabric. I call the white shapes = shaped impressions. These are the shapes created by masking stencils. There are some brayer marks on the right edge and a detailed impression in the top left corner.
This is just a snapshot of a larger print. Of course it was my last print of the day and then therefore my favorite. I must be more experimental or loose when I am just trying to use up my ink. And the prints that come from that attitude are usually fresh, exciting and my favorite.
I hope you have enjoyed these few gelatin plate monotype prints on fabric. If you would like to make prints on fabric with a group of international artist, then sign up for Monoprinting on Fabric. It is a 4 week online printmaking course with Linda Germain. Check out the details and sign up today.
I tried out some pastel dye sticks to add color to a monochromatic gelatin print. They seem a little “waxy” so I think I will use them as a last layer, too add a bit of accent color.
They can be heat set with an iron according to the manufacturers instructions.
Sometimes with gelatin printing it is a challenge to fill in a delicate white space with another printing method. That is when hand work and mixed media techniques can help.
If you would like to explore gelatin printmaking on fabric, with a great group of international artists, then sign up today for the online printmaking course, Monoprinting on Fabric. Read the details here.