I decided that Power People would be my printmaking theme for this year.  This one is from a photo of my nephew.  You can find the tutorial on how I made the stencil for gelatin printmaking at this blog post.

People Prints and Silhouettes

I am amazed that a little detail in a silhouette can make such a big difference.  The human eye can detect so much!  This gelatin print:

• Is printed on an index card
• Has a scrappy clean up background
• I used a tile sample to make the square marks
• I lifted off and stamped on those square marks
• I used the Pre-ink the stencil method to get a strong impression of the figure.

What is a scrappy clean up background?

Ahhhh.  Well I use a lot of newsprint pickups in my work to clean the gelatin plate of unwanted ink.  See the full post here.  Sometimes  I do these pick ups with print paper.  Often this clean up, piece of paper has fabulous marks and becomes a print of its own, as was the case here.

Cut up your Gelatin, Play and Freeze

When I am finished with a workshop or have an extra gelatin plate that I won’t be using for a week or more I freeze it!  That way is does not mold and I can reuse it.

Here is a pile of gelatin ready to be frozen.

Happy Printing!

 

I am planning to share and post for sale some affordable  art in the very near future.  I have been playing with the gelatin printmaking process for so long now that I have quite a collection of prints.  It takes a lot more than just producing a pleasing print to get it to a new home.

The Challenge of Affordable Art

These are the hidden steps in getting art/gelatin prints to a new home

• Mat/Frame or otherwise finish
• Photograph as accurately a possible
• Describe the process and material
• Exhibit, show or post on line
• Pay fees to do the above
• Connect with a gallery, group or online seller

Then how do I an original maker/creator compete with reproductions and other wall art that is reasonably priced?  Hmm so much to do and think about.

Happy Day!

 

 

Do you ever take that gelatin plate print one step too far and then regret it?  I know I do.  But I try to not let this fear of wrecking the piece stop me.

Printmaking without a Press

• gives me freedom to work at home or in a smaller space
• Is usually a faster process that allows for
• quick learning about technique and design

Move through the Fear and Play

• Stop printing if you really love it
• Wait a day to see if you need to add a final pop to the gelatin print
• Maybe add that “pop” by hand or with a more predictable technique
• Make extra prints so you can take risks on the ones that you like but don’t love

Share the Link Love Friday

1. http://www.geninne.com Geninne’s Art Blog, she has wonderful illustrations, stamping tutorials and a new book just out Avian Friends Activity Journal.
2. http://thecardboardcollective.com Be inspired to shade yourself from the sun with this paper bag hat!  Many other patterns and plans for making stuff with cardboard.
3. RAE MISSIGMAN is part of the 21 Secrets Art Journaling course.  I just signed up and I watched her videos and made a recycled coptic stitch book with no tears or frustration.  Her video was very easy to follow.  I watched it once and then made the book parts and then watched it again as I sewed the gelatin print signatures to the old Nancy Drew Book. Here’s a video of my coptic stitch book for the go green project.

4. Well this is not a blog but it is a Kickstarter Project that caught my eye.  So I share it here for you.  The concept and the aesthetic speak to me.  I know that I can take away and benefit from artists who are similar but different than me.  So I share Ubuntu Handline Portfolio and a Kickstarter project.

5. Another mixed printmaker from New England who uses the gelli plate and collage to make delicate and expressive monotype prints Roberta Warshaw.

Happy Printing!

Sometimes when you are playing with your gelatin printing process, things just don’t go as you expected.  But you always have options.

Muddy Gelatin Print

• If the print is too dark 
• One option is to directly roll white ink on to the print
• This covers some but not all of the underlying layers
• It allows some of the original mark to show through

This gelatin print did not have much contrast and had no focal point, so I cover the page with white speedball ink.  Then I used the traditional stencil to print the star and I hand stamped the circle shapes directly on to the paper.

The more ink you have on the paper the less the ink is absorbed.  It just sits on top of the layers.

If you have “saved” an ugly, muddy gelatin print then please share it with the flickr group with a link to your site.  I love to see other people’s successes.

Happy Printing!