relief prints Archives - Linda Germain

Go back to your sketchbook

artist book, inspiration, relief prints / Linda Germain / August 30, 2021

I have been using a sketchbook a lot more in the past year. It is quite satisfying to fill one up.

Sometimes I get too focused on finishing up a sketchbook. They end up on a shelf or in a box.

Then I remembered that they can be used as source material for more drawings and prints. So this may be obvious to you, but it is a new idea for me, to use the original sketches as reference to make more drawings.

So get out some of those old sketchbooks and draw! Some of these doodles and drawings make even inspire printing plates or stencils. Keep it fun!

If you are interested in relief printing with foam plates, then check out the details on the workshop page and join us in the Soft Plate Relief Printing class. This online class starts soon.

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Use your paper scraps

collage, inspiration, relief prints / Linda Germain / June 8, 2021

I trim a lot of paper and usually have a lot of scraps of the same size.

I use these paper trimmings to make:

small books
cards
to do list papers

My everyday print paper is Pacon heavyweight drawing paper, 90lb. I like to buy the ream 12″ x 18″. Then I can cut some common sizes that are easy to frame.

Most recently I have been making a daily collage with odd scraps in the recycle bin. I pull out 5 pieces of paper and give myself 15 minutes to make a collage.

One time I used the trimmed paper from a book project to make a long skinny book for foam relief prints. So don’t throw those paper trimmings away.

I use a lot of little “To Do” lists. So I added some stamped marks to the bottom of some waste paper and made my lists a little more fun!

So what do you think you could do with your paper scraps and trimmings? I hope I have stimulated your thoughts and you make some fun stuff!

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Plates as Puzzle pieces

relief prints / Linda Germain / May 15, 2020

Working and printing at home or in a small studio is easy when using soft foam plates. I can pile prints in small spaces and spread tools out on a couple of tables.

I love using recycled produce containers and small consistent sizes to make plates that can fit together some what like a puzzle.

Soft foam plates create muted and changeable impression. They can be layered an overlapped to introduce variety into the piece.

If you are looking for a low tech way to print on paper or fabric and create one of a kind impressions, then foam plate printing may be a good option for you.

The basic technique is to make recessed lines in the foam and then ink and print the high parts of the plate. Simple pens and pencils can be used to make the marks. But you can get creative with found objects and masking stencils to expand the mark making vocabulary.

Join us in the upcoming class, Soft Plate Relief Printing, read all the details on the workshop page.

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Reverse engineer a relief print

relief prints / Linda Germain / September 13, 2018

Do you look at art and wonder how it was made?

I do.

It is easier to try to figure out the creation steps when I am familiar with the technique. So I can do it for printmaking processes much easier than say painting or sculpture.

It is fun to wonder about prints and pieces that truly inspire me to new action.

But with some types of mixed media printmaking there is an element of chance or serendipity.

Many types of printmaking involve planning layers in reverse and tight registration with crisp clean results. That is not my style.

I like to try it and see what happens. There is an element of trial and error. I often work on several prints at once, so I have a place for all the different kinds of marks.

I generally go from caution to chaos and around to completion eventually. With this type of experimental approach it is nearly impossible to reverse engineer a print. Often marks are one of a kind and part of an earlier impression.

For example:

This soft plate relief print has these steps:

print the orange plate
Print the yellow square plate
Add the plain blue rectangle
and the 2 steps that make the print
over print the yellow with a bit of orange
over print the blue with a masking stencil and white ink

The confusing thing about printmaking can be that it is an indirect method of art making and you often do not get to your end product with a direct line.

So if you can:

take what you know
be open to serendipity
learn from mistakes

then you will be a happy mixed media printmaker.

If you would like to explore soft plate relief printing, then join us in the next session.

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Printing from Manhole cover

fabric prints, relief prints / Linda Germain / October 16, 2017

I have seen the wonderful videos floating around by https://raubdruckerin.de I have been looking for some local manhole covers that might make an interesting print.

I have admired the texture and patterns of things in the street for years.

I was searching for a safe place to print from a manhole cover. And a place that was a little inconspicuous.

I used this pattern to make a screen print many years ago. Do you notice what is at your feet?

Get in close and see if from a new angle. You might be inspired.

I found this one right near the shop. It is one the side walk instead of the street. So I could safely play with making some prints.

I pulled a couple of prints on some old t-shirts. I was quite pleased with the impression. This is a mirror image so the you can read the printing.

I think that the asymmetrical placement of the marks is interesting. It takes quite bit of ink to get the surface “primed” so it would be better to print several at a time.

I encourage you to pause and notice the textures and patterns at your feet. Who knows it may inspire your next printmaking session.

Embrace the beauty before you. Be inspired.

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