Trace Monoprint – drawing of my car

trace monoprint / /

I am doing a challenge #SEEdrawPrint for the month of November. Today I did a trace monoprint of my car.

drawing of car with sharpie

As with most forms of printmaking the image get reserved when you print it. So either you reverse the matrix before printing or you have a backwards image.

Well I made a discovery. If I draw the image with a sharpie, it bleeds through to the other side and I can use that side as my tracing matrix. It came in very handy when I was printing the words in reverse.

trace monoprint of car

I was pretty happy with this quick little monoprint. I used rice paper and speedball water based block printing ink. It is a Toyota Yaris.

Trace Monotype print of Toyota Yaris by Linda Germain

I did a little rubbing with my finger to get the gray values on the seats and the nose of the car. This is a good process if you want to just do one line drawing print of an image.

If you have not tried this process before then check out the weekend workshop coming in February.

 

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Beach rocks inspired print

relief prints / /

I love beach rocks. This past summer I collected some with stripes and circles in them.

beach rock inspired block for printmaking

So for day 2 of my #SeeDrawPrint challenge I drew out the the basic shape of the rock with the white circle on the edge. Then I transferred it to the eraser block and carved it out.

hand printed card with an eraser block

I printed a note card. I let the abstract stones tumble on and off the page. I did a ghost impression to get a change in value. And I let my design fall on and off the edges.

I thought about adding words to the card, but decided against it. I thought the words would then become the focus and take sway from the stone shapes.

Now to the average viewer, she may not know that it is a stone, but that is ok with me. I like the block as an abstract mark anyway.

Note cards can make good gifts – join us in the new online printmaking class – Printed Gifts. Get the online printmaking workshop details here

 

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SEE draw Print – a 30 day challenge

fabric prints / /

I am going to SEE, draw and print something each day in November. Those 30 day challenges always seem like a fun idea, let’s see how it goes.

leaf stamp carved from an eraser

I just took a Block Printing on Fabric class with Jen Hewett. So I had all the tools ready to carve a tiny leaf block. I found the little leaf for inspiration on my walk. It is very satisfying to see, draw and print from something I found.

I did a blue test print with a water based marker. It is a quick way to test the block and see if I want to remove more of the block.

hand printed fabric by Linda Germain

Then I printed around the edge of this lime green towel. Definitely has an autumn feel to it.

So for my 30 days of printing, I will be doing some trace monoprinting, gelatin printmaking, stenciling, maybe screen printing and more block printing.

Check Instagram for #SeeDrawPrint

Enjoy!

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Abstract Landscapes with the Gelatin Plate

monotype print / /

It is fast and easy to make a series of abstract landscapes when you are printing with the gelatin plate.

abstract landscape by linda germain

Today I used the principle of range of value and dynamic division of space to pull a few monotype printed landscapes. I got several prints that I can crop and frame and turn into holiday gifts.

If you would like to make some holiday gifts, and explore the abstract landscape and you would like some help building your design and compositional skills, then you are in luck!

Check out the current printmaking workshops.

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Add a focal point and finish some prints

monotype print / /

It is easy to get caught up in the process of gelatin printmaking. It is fast and spontaneous. I will often pull many prints and not really have any one print that is finished.
various mixed media prints by linda germain

Add a focus to complete your print

One way to complete a print is to add a focus. Ask your self:

  1. What is the print saying?
  2. Does it have a feel?
  3. What kind of mark would compliment and complete the print?

Sometimes it is easy to answer those questions and other times the print is just in its infancy.

Monotype Print with glycerin plate by Linda Germain
surprise layers

This print above was just a blue and black “newsprint” pick up. And by added the black figure I created a focus and also embraced the design principles of variety and repetition.

Printing design principles

My suggestion to you is:

  • notice how your eye travels around the print
  • allow for surprise
  • aim for a dynamic range of values from very light to very dark
  • limit your tools (don’t try to do everything) in one print
  • give yourself time and space to develop your design skills
  • simplify, simplify simplify

crop and complete monoprinted cards

If you would like to explore printmaking – check out the current online printmaking classes.

 

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