20 topics tackled in Monoprinting on Fabric

I have received some great feedback, and I am pleased to share that much of what you want to learn about monoprintng on fabric with the glycerin and gelatin plate is covered in the online printmaking course.

Read on and get excited:

  1. Make fun fabrics to make clothes for your grandchildren.

  2. Learn the benefits of different applications of hand-printing at home.

  3. Discover and master the differences between printing on fabric and paper.

  4. Get ideas on how to incorporating the fabric into your work.

  5. If you are new to the process, then just get started with gelatin printmaking

  6. Obtain lots of time saving information about products, inks and tools

  7. Learn to use objects and color to create a great impression

  8. Discover how to fabric keep looking good and bright

  9. Make choices to keep the soft hand of the fabric

  10. Add printing on fabric to your mixed media skills

  11. Make completely unique fabrics for mixed media projects

  12. Accent woven fabric with printed marks and surface design.

  13. Expand your knowledge of how to compose a pleasing image/pattern

  14. Be inspired new ideas from everyone in the class

  15. Explore and develop your sense of design

  16. Have such messy fun!

  17. Embrace a little play time

  18. Expand the possibilities using the gelatin plate!

  19. Make new fiber art projects

  20. Learn to make clear prints

Wow!

That may even sound overwhelming instead of inspiring, but I have broken down the content into small manageable pieces. So you can take the course and step by step you will be exploring and learning more than you ever though possible.

That is one of the beautiful things about printmaking with the gelatin plate. You can get printing right away. There is not a lot of planning and once you have your studio space set up you can print for a short time and steadily build your skills.

Check out the details of this online printmaking course – Monoprinting Fabric with the Gelatin Plate.

Enjoy a quick slideshow of some student monoprints on fabric

Student Prints on fabric with the gelatin plate from Linda Germain on Vimeo.

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Why play with printing on fabric?

Play and guided discovery is how new things are invented. If you follow all the rules, then it is hard to create something new.

Monoprinted fabric on the gelatin plate by Linda Germain

That is why I love gelatin printmaking.

With just a few tools and a pile of recycled fabric I can explore imagery, layering, composition and mark making with immediate feedback.

  1. This immediate result allows for active learning and adjustment.
  2. I don’t have to wait for things to develop like with some dyeing processes.
  3. I don’t have to spend hours planning and carving one design like with block printing.
  4. I don’t need the planning and set up of screen printing.

hand stitched gelatin printed fabric by linda germain

My most favorite tools are found object stencils, grasses, threads and feathers. I can combine these with a few other marks and have hours of printmaking fun.


Recycled fabric ready for monotprinting with the gelatin plate by linda germain

I like to use 100 percent cotton sheets, the old ones that you can find at a boutique thirft store. This makes the materials less precious and creates a freedom to explore. I can print with abandon, and if the layering idea did not work, then no loss. It was not a precious, expensive piece of fabric.

I like the exploration so much that I have piles of fabric prints that could be transformed into a finished product. Seven project ideas for monoprints on fabric:

  1. Stitch, mat and frame
  2. Stitch, piece and cover a journal
  3. Trim and make into and iron on patch for a tote bag
  4. Cut and quilt into coasters
  5. Rip and wrap into fabric balls
  6. Crop and combine into pillow covers
  7. Sew and quilt into table runners

What about you? Do you have fiber projects that would be transformed by using one of a kind monoprinted fabrics of your own making?

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Do you want to print your own Fabrics?
Get the instruction, support and encouragement you need to succeed!

Monoprinting on Fabric - online printmaking course 

  • Make  & modify the glycerin and gelatin plate
  • Make the most of your marks on fabric
  • Capture the details with mere hand pressure
  • Create one of a kind fabrics

Additionally, you will receive a weekly email about printmaking, ideas, tips and courses.

Join us today and start having fun!

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Wear Your ART – fabric prints

I received a wonderful a handbag from one of my students recently, Chris Cooper of the Great Little Bag, Noosa, Australia.

I was so surprised and proud of the bag the I told everyone about it at recent family gathering.

the great little bag from chris cooper
the great little bag from chris cooper

She told me the flowers were relief prints and the outline is free motion stitching. The long strap allows for me to wear it across my chest and showcases the printed bag at my hip.

The Great Little Bag drew lots of attention and compliments at the Library book sale last weekend.

That got me thinking about printmaking and wearing your artwork. When I finish a piece, a video or some other art I want to stare at it for hours at every angle.

What do you do when you finish a piece? How do you admire it? Do you have ways that you wear your art?

Want to Hand Print Unique Fabric?

Join today and get notice of future classes.

You will also get weekly emails about printmaking, tips, tools and classes.

 

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Screen printing made easy

screen prints that are possible with the thermofax kit by linda germainYou can do it!

You are familiar with the idea of screen printing. Everyone has a screen printed T-shirt. Maybe you are even familiar with Andy Warhol’s famous screen prints as shown below.

Screen shot Google search Warhol

The idea is simple. You push/pull ink through tiny holes in a design on a screen. The trick is to get the design on the screen.

Thermo Fax machine for screen printingThermofax machines do this for us. And you do not need the expensive machine to get started.

I have the machine and I made a starter kit for you. You can be screen printing by the end of the week.

8 piece Thermofax Screen starter
8 piece Thermofax Screen starter kit with Pulling Screen Prints the online printmaking course with Linda Germain

This starter kit gives you the 8 designs shown above. They are great for small projects. You can prints, cards, mixed media projects, t-shirts and more.

Video: Screen Printing made easy with Thermofax kit

Watch the motion of my hand. It is so easy to make the print

This Kit is no longer available.

  • Show you how to cut, tape and stabilize  the screens
  • Print with the screens
  • Choose substrates to print on
  • Get you started

You will also get information on how to set up your workspace and clean and care for  your new screens.

This Kit is no longer available.

A table cover, scarf, note cards and handbag all made with the thermofax screen starter kit images.

thermofax screen printing kit projects by linda germain

 

Generally I advise folks to use proper screen printing ink so that the ink does not dry too fast and ruin the screen. But a recent shopping trip revealed that the local craft stores are not carrying basic screen printing ink. I am so disappointed.

That lead me to experiment with acrylic craft paint. And I will say that is it possible to print with the craft paint BUT you MUST clean the screen IMMEDIATELY. So the ink does not dry in the holes and ruin your screen. And I do I mean immediately.

screen printing with thermofax screen and acrylic paint breaking the rules

All craft paints are different and the cheaper they are the more water they have and the less pigment. I liked how the Martha Stewart satin worked. If the paint is too watery it can not hold the edge.

Another alternative is to order the Golden screen printing medium, mix that with you acrylic craft paint and you should be good to go.

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Printing on Fabric Pillow with stencils

Hand printed pillow covers - Linda Germain

This past week I was making hand printed fabric pillow covers. It was fun to hand draw the text on to freezer paper. Then cut out and iron on to the fabric.

I recycled the pillow forms from local thrift stores and Extra’s For creative Reuse. The fabric was a table cloth and curtain panel.

Freezer paper stencil used to print pillow covers

Freezer paper can be ironed on to the fabric to be used as a one time stencil. It is easy to cut too.

Color tests for hand printing fabric

I did quick color tests on a scrap piece of fabric. I think that all the colors work. It just depends on the message and effect that I want to create. Subtle colors are good to use at the beginning because they hide mistakes.

The next class that I will be offering is Monoprinting Fabric. Check out the details and mark your calendar.

Want to Hand Print Unique Fabric?

Join today and get notice of future classes.

You will also get weekly emails about printmaking, tips, tools and classes.

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