I realized that my natural printing method is to be inspired by found tools.Which takes the need to draw a matrix out of the equation.

I found this small rubber circle thing while on my daily walk and it inspired me to pick it up. It lifts of ink and applies ink to the gelatin plate perfectly. I that two different size circles that will work nicely together.

Autumn in New England there are plenty of leaves and grasses on the ground. I picked up one and gave it a “hair cut”. If the grass is too complex the shape impression ends up being a big white blob.

The other way that I usually work, is to pull many prints to get a couple that I like. I work out the composition as I go.

Today I pulled a stack of prints and then got my framing mats and cropped up a couple into pleasing compositions.

This is the shaped impression of the grasses and I used my found tool to lift off and then apply circle impressions to the plate.

This is the detailed impression of the grasses and I stamped a few more circle on to the plate with my round rubber circle tool.

This one I place the little pieces of grass back on to the detailed impression to “save” some white marks and increase the range of value. And I was playing with random design rather than a balance one.

If you would like to explore gelatin printmaking through the self study printmaking workshop, then check out he details of the online printmaking class on the information page

Today for my 30 day challenge I cut a stencil out of a manilla folder of my sister’s dog. I reduced the size of the image to fit on a 3 inch wooden ornament.

I cut is slowly with a sharp blade, being careful to keep all the interesting negative shapes in the ears, tail and legs.

I used a circle cutter and cut some circles from my gelatin plate monotype prints. Then I stenciled the dog on the papers. Then I glued the papers to the wooden disc. I drilled a hole in the disc and threaded some ribbon through he top.

Want to learn how to stencil the “JOY” ornament get the FREE tutorial below.

I have extra time to print and play, so I did a few drawings of some stylized leaves and turned one into a thermofax screen.

I think the SEE part of my 30 day #SEEdrawPrint challenge is about seeing the everyday stuff with artist’s eyes. I hope to notice things that I would not normally.

A thermofax screen is created by placing a carbon copy against the emulsion coated screen mesh and running it through the Thermofax machine. The machine “burns” the emulsion away where the carbon is and creates a screen for printmaking.

It is a great way to get a detailed line drawing matrix. I bought the machine about 4 years ago and thought I would use it a lot more than I do.

I did a random all over pattern of this abstract leaf on a flour sack. FUN!