Roll with what “Life” gives you

stencils / /
Embrace the surprises of making monotypes - linda germain
Embrace the surprises of making monotypes – linda germain

Today I cleaned my brayers, palette and workspace. Sometimes it is nice just to start fresh, clean brayers and fresh ink and different stencils.

I was surprised that the surface of my plate developed tiny holes overnight.  I actually love it when my plate starts to deteriorate. I dug through my stack of stencils and found a few that I wanted to work with, but they were not holding and transferring the ink the way that I wanted.

So I pulled several prints experimenting with different techniques.  I got a few interesting mark, but I decided to give my stencils a quick coat of white acrylic paint.  Maybe that will help the stencils to hold and release paint in the way that I desire.

If you want some support to learn to roll with the opportunities that making monotypes can present, then register for the next session of Make Monotypes.  Read all the details here and check out the FAQ’s. Early bird savings until Friday, May 16th.

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Tiny Maple Tree in a Series of Monotype Prints

Gelatin plate print / /
Tiny tree as stencil for monotype printing on the glycerin plate by linda germain
Monotype print on the glycerin plate by linda germain

I have alway wanted to do a series of monotype prints with tiny trees.  I want to show the roots below the surface and the the leaves above the surface.

So today I gave it another shot.  It is challenging to use fragile plant materials to block and transfer ink. Below you can see how I placed the tiny tree on the plate ink side up when it was not in use.

Tiny tree as stencil for monotype printing on the glycerin plate by linda germain
Tiny tree as stencil for monotype printing on the glycerin plate by linda germain

If you are curious about monoprinting on the glycerin plate with inks on paper, then watch the video below, and sign up for the next session of Make Monotypes, a 6 week online printmaking course with ink on paper.  Early bird discount is available through Friday, May 17th.

Make Monotypes – printmaking without a press with Linda Germain from Linda Germain on Vimeo.

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Make Prints with a Friend – stay motivated

techniques / /
Trace monoprint by linda germain
Trace monoprint by linda germain
Trace monoprint by linda germain
Trace monoprint by linda germain

This weekend slipped away.  I squeezed in 2 trace monoprints for today and yesterday.  I find it is easier to stay motivated when I commit to make prints with a friend.  It is the promise and the accountability.  It is about doing what I say I am going to do.  What about you?  Do you rely on your friends to motivate you?  Do you motivate your friends?

If you like to be motivated by others then check out the next, the online printmaking class.

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Enhance relief printing with glycerin plate

combined techniques / /
relief stamping by linda germain
relief stamping by linda germain

My friend Sandra Golbert, a  fiber artist, gave me 2 primitive wooden relief stamps.  I knew I wanted to use them for today’s print. I love them.  I was not sure how I wanted to use them, so I just started inking and stamping to see what would happen.

Well even though I had nice thin and even layer of ink and used a padded printing surface the ink did not transfer evenly.  You can see those marks in the blue image above, so I grabbed a glycerin and gelatin plate and started printing on the plate.

The water in the plate and the water in the ink and the malleability of the plate all work together to release the ink from the tool on to the plate and then on to the paper.

Today I used 2 methods of printing without a press, relief printing and the planographic process with the glycerin plate.

Here’s today’s print for make a print a day in May.

Walk on a monotype print by linda germain
Walk on a monotype print by linda germain

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Vary the size of your marks – a design principle

Gelatin plate print / /
Monotype Print by Linda Germain
Monotype Print by Linda Germain

A quick simple print pulled on the glycerin plate.  A shaped impression on the left and a detailed impression on the right.  I think the combination of big shape and delicate marks helps to create interest. Variety in the marks is the design principle that I tried to employ here. What do you think?

If you want to learn more about these types of impressions then check out the printmaking workshops page.

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