What can you do with 25 pennies?

stencils / /
Sink leaves in water and glycerin mix for 2 to 3 days to preserve.
Submerge leaves in a water and glycerin bath for several days to preserve.

I know you have jars, cups and containers of those pretty pennies.

I do!

We can’t buy much with 25 pennies these days. So let’s put those pennies to work.

A couple of my students shared with me that they preserve leaves with a glycerin bath.

So I googled the process and found that you mix 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water and to submerge the leaves for several days.

This is where the pennies come in. I used the pennies to weight down the leaves and ferns.

It takes some planning and patience. But I am encouraged by the results.

I preserved a fern this way and used it to print with screen printing inks on cotton fabric, with the glycerin and gelatin plate.

I think these steps will help the process:

  • Choose natural materials that are still a little green (not dried up)
  • Smash the end of the stem to open it up and aid in the absorption
  • Be patient
  • Blot them to remove the glycerin bath
  • Store them flat
  • Use a shallow flat plastic container and cover with a sealed lid to save the bath for another day

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Printmaking tools just outside my Door

tools / /
Construction fence, japanese newspaper, sketch from the machine shop and some huge leaves - all for printmaking play - linda germain
Construction fence, japanese newspaper, sketch from the machine shop and some huge leaves – all for printmaking play – linda germain

Today, I decided that I was going to have some fun, explore a bit and see if I could find some printmaking inspiration.

With the intention set, I began my day.  Just a few steps outside my studio door and I began to find some “new” printmaking tools.

  1. Construction fencing will work great for what I call a “brayer rubbing”
  2. The giant leaves are soaking an a glycerin and water bath to preserve them.
  3. Chinese or  japanese newspaper from the recycle bin next door.
  4. A sketch from the machine shop

My day had barely started and I had already collected more than enough printmaking tools for experimentation.

I printed with Jacquard Textile paints to create some monoprints on cotton fabric. These paints are more fluid than the Versatex screen printing inks that I tried yesterday.

When the printmaking ink/paint is more fluid, then it may not be able to hold the detailed impression. The ink/paint starts to run together and the resulting monoprint can be somewhat fuzzy.

This detail impression is very important to me. It is what makes printing with the glycerin and gelatin plate so amazing. Fine detail similar to an etching is possible with mere hand pressure and the right stencil material.

Check the current workshop list for a class that would interest you.

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Inks & paints for printing on Fabric with the Gelatin plate

fabric prints, monotype print / /
monotype printing on fabric with the gelatin plate by linda germain
monoprinting on fabric with the gelatin plate

I am playing with all types of printmaking inks and paints for making prints on fabric with the gelatin and glycerin plate.

I am looking for inks that are compatible with the water based printing plate.

I am drawn to the type of fine detailed impressions that are possible on the homemade glycerin plate. I am always amazed at the fine details that are possible with mere hand pressure and the gelatin and glycerin plate.

It is important to me that the inks permit the printing of these types of detailed impressions.

The perfect ink will:

  • roll out thin layer with brayer
  • hold the edge of a detailed mark
  • stay alive/workable as long as possible
  • non-toxic and low fumes
  • dry fixed on the fabric

The monoprints in the photo were printed with the Versatex screen printing inks. I am pleased with these inks so far.  A bonus is that they work well with paper too.

These screen printing inks have a nice consistency and they roll up nicely on the glycerin and gelatin printing plate.

If you would like to learn more about Monoprinting Fabric with inks and the gelatin plate read all the details on the self study workshop page.

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3 Tips for Choosing the Best Leaves for Monoprinting

masking stencils / /
compare leaves for their printmaking qualities - linda germain
Can you identify which leaves will make better prints?

Lots of folks want to print with leaves, flowers and grasses. All natural materials are not the same. Some are better than others for printing on the glycerin and gelatin plate.

To get the most detailed and interesting impressions when making prints with natural objects I look for 3 qualities.

Printing with Leaves and Grasses

  1. Leaves with interesting negative space. That means I look at the shape around the leaf and ask myself it is interesting or boring.  Also if petals of the leaf touch each other then they will create one big space instead of separate petals. Do I want that?
  2. Texture on the back side of the leaf.  Are the veins prominent? Will they create a detailed mark? More mature leaves generally have more distinct veins.
  3. Strong but flexible.  Tender spring leaves usually flop and curl. They are hard to handle. Look for a sturdy flat leaf that with withstand, inking, moving and rubbing. Dried leaves are usually brittle and seem resistant to holding the ink.

Hope these tips help you with your next printmaking session with grasses and leaves.

Do you have other qualities that you look for when printing with objects from nature?  If so share them in the comments section and inspire us.

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Cover your journal with monoprinted fabric

fabric prints / /
monotypes on fabric - a project by linda germain
Quick and Easy project – Use monoprints to cover a journa and ENJOY!l

I have been wondering what the attraction is to working with fabric.

I think it has to be the personal, tactile nature of the medium.  You can feel it, touch it and even wear it.

Prints on paper are often under glass and we are discouraged from touching them.

Tell me in the comments: Why you love to work with fabric and printmaking.

Here’s a quick tutorial:

  1. Put strips of strong double stick tape on the outer edges of the inside of the covers of a stiff composition journal.
  2. Cut your fabric about 3/4″ – 1″ bigger all the way around the open journal. So you have enough to cover the back and the front and wrap 3/4″ – 1″ to the inside.
  3. Wrap one edge over and stick it to the tape,  as shown in the top right image.
  4. Carefully pull the fabric taut and then stick it to the tape. You want it to be flat and tight, but not so tight that it warps your journal.
  5. Snip the fabric at the top and bottom of the spine.  This will allow you to get around the pages.
  6. You can get fancy and miter the corners, or just snip out some of the excess and finger press the fabric flat.
  7. You could finish the inside covers with more tape and fabric.  I simply pressed the first and last page to the inside covers.

Now I get to see, touch, and enjoy these monoprints everyday.

Interested in gelatin printing your own fabric? Check out the online class Monoprinting Fabric.

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