Stamping tools for Making Monotypes

mark making tools / /

Plastic hand stamping tool for gelatin printmaking - Linda Germain printmaking teacher

Search the seasonal plastic section of your local dollar store for stamping tools for printmaking. I found this paper plate holder with this circular pattern.

Found object mark making tool for gelatin printing by Linda Germain

The beauty of printing with the gelatin and glycerin printing plate is the great detail is possible with just hand pressure for printing.

Use the thin layer of ink on the plate to ink the tools. Press the stamping tool into the thin layer of ink, transfer the thin layer to the tool and then print it back on to the plate.

Then place the print paper on top and burnish. All with just hand pressure.

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Elastics to make a relief plate

relief prints / /

stamping tool made with elastic - Linda Germain

Elastics can be a great line element. I like the circular nature of the elastics as well.

I used carpet tape to stick the elastic on to the foam plate. Carpet tape is great because there is not waiting. You can start using the there relief plate right away.

Anything that is fast and easy is a good tool in my printmaking process.

Hand stamping tool for printmaking without a press

If you would like to explore making relief plates with lots of common materials and then use them with the glycerin and gelatin printing plate then, join us in the next session of Making Monotypes. Read the details here. Class starts soon!

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Sprocket as a printmaking tool – monotypes

mark making tools / /

Use gentle pressure to lift off ink with this found object toolUse gentle pressure to lift off ink with this found object tool

You need to be gentle with metal  tools when you use them with gelatin plate. Metal could easily pierce or cut the gelatin plate.

I like how I can lightly run the sprocket over the inked area of the plate and then print of the sprocket on a clean area of the gelatin plate.

Work into ink with metal sprocket - Linda Germain

Line element can be:

  • bold
  • chaos
  • meandering
  • directive

If you would like to explore making monotypes on the glycerin and gelatin plate join the next session of Make Monotypes, the online printmaking course. Read about the details of the class. Class starts soon.

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Use relief stamp with Gelatin Plate

monotype print / /

Foam relief stamp as printing tool with the gelatin plate

Foam relief plate are super easy to make. You can buy sticky back foam and cut it into shapes, stick the shapes on an old CD cover, piece of wood or recycled foam produce tray.

Generally you would ink the relief plate and the print it off. But I use these little printmaking tools to work into the think layer of ink on the gelatin and glycerin printing plate.

Add a handle to the back of the relief stamp

To make it easier to remove the relief stamp from the surface of the gelatin plate, I made a  little “handle”. I simply taped a strip of foam core to the backside of the relief plate. This “handle” makes it easier to pick up and move around.

Lift off ink and stamp it back on to the gelatin plate - Linda Germain

Layers of marks with the gelatin and glycerin printing plate - Linda Germain

Are you ready to explore printmaking without a press? Consider an online printmaking workshop.

 

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Found tool for Printmaking without a press

mark making tools / /

Jar opener as stamping tool with the gelatin plate - Linda germainI see printmaking tools all around me. Today I am going to share how a rubber jar opener can be used to work into the thin layer of ink on the gelatin plate.

The idea is to work into the thin layer of ink on the gelatin plate. So I use the rubber jar opener to lift off ink. It eventually becomes coated with ink and then I can use it to apply delicate marks back on to the plate.

Jar opener as printmaking tool

I challenge you to dig through your miscellaneous kitchen utensil drawer and see if you have a rubber jar opener that could become a new printmaking tool.

The magic  starts to happen when you play with many pieces of paper and layer your marks. If you would like some help exploring gelatin printmaking, with the homemade glycerin and gelatin plate, then join us in the next session of Make Monotypes, the online printmaking course. 

  • Early bird registration opens January 24, 2016
  • Next session will be offered in February 22, 2016
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