Cool hand pulled original print on a HOT day

2010, video / /

hand pulled original print by linda germainThese bright colors are fun to work with.  I often work with inks straight out of the tube with out mixing to get just the right color.

  • colors can get dull pretty quick
  • primary colors are more intense
  • layering the primary colors keeps the colors crisper

Hand Pulled Print

  • 3 colors of speed ball ink, magenta, yellow and blue
  • 2 masking stencils
  • inked just sections of the plate with certain colors

Pretty soon I am going to take a look at my wall of index cards and identify all the benefits that I have gained by doing the ICAD challenge.  I have to make more space on the wall for the ever growing collection of index card hand pulled original print.

 

I joined the 21 Secrets – art journalling group a couple of days ago.  It is a really deal.   For the Christmas in July price of $49.00, I get 21, projects, lessons, gifts, tutorials from 21 different teacher.  Tammy from Daisy Yellow is offering a watercolor class.

I think I may have found a use for those piles of less than lovely gelatin plate prints that I have filling up my studio.

I followed Rae Missigman‘s instructions to make a coptic stitch book from recycled stuff in her GO GREEN class.  I have made a few coptic stitch books but always suffered and struggled with them.  Well her video was so perfect.  No more fear of the coptic stitch for me.  I kinda did my own thing with the cover of the book and skipped a lot of the steps that she offered, but I am really happy with it.

I used –

  • an old Nancy Drew book
  • gelatin prints for the pages
  • kite string that I waxed
  • dictionary pages on the spine of the signatures
  • fabric tape and gesso to make the old book a little more sturdy

I will be sharing my creations with you as I go along!   Happy Printing!

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Hands Raised in Joy – a Monotype Print

monotype print / /

Joyful Celebration a female figure gelatin Print by linda germainLet’s raise up our hand in joyful celebration.  Why not?

Monotype Print

  • is on a book page and then
  • attached to the index card for the ICAD challenge
  • so simple
  • one step
  • inked the gelatin plate
  • laid down the masking stencil
  • placed the book page on top and
  • pulled the monotype print

This very moment I have decided to join the Link Love with the others over at Daisy Yellow.  This is the deal every friday share 5 fab links with my readers.  So here I go

  1. Deek at Relaxshacks is an energy and inspiration to me.  I think he will inspire you even if you are not into the Tiny House Movement.
  2. Susan Gaylord is a treasure.  She makes books, has tutorials and words of wisdom.  She even has a new book out Art Lessons.  It is about art as a full time life
  3. I met Lydia Fiedler in Austin, Tx this spring. She has great humor and enthusiasm  for mixed media art making.  She writes at Understanding Blue.
  4. Be inspired by the watercolor figure painting of Gretchen Kelly
  5. A realist painter who is local to New England, Debbie Shirley amazes me with her skills.  Enjoy some of her work here.

share the link love daisy yellow

I came in a few months late to the Link Love project, but it feels good to share these gems with you.

If you see this bright yellow button you will know they are sharing the love too.

 

Happy Printing!

 

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Hand printed flag for Independence Day

2010 / /

hand pulled monotype print inspired by the american flag by linda germain

A hand pulled American flag inspired gelatin print today in honor of the 4th of July Independence Day here in the USA.  To create this

Hand Printed Monotype

  • I used to index cards to make my masking stencilsmasking stencils and gelatin plate prints by linda germain
  • the index cards had the perfect number of lines to get 7 red stripes
  • I marked the rows that should print red and cut them out
  • I put a couple strips of tape on the edge to hold the card together
  • the photo shows you the two masking stencils on the right side
  • and the 2 gelatin prints that I hand printed on the left

 

I don’t usually plan and think out my gelatin prints and layers.  But this was kind of fun to do today.

 

You would think by now I would know that things get reversed when printing on the gelatin plate, but no.  The first print that I pulled was backwards.   Aaahhhh it was only an index card and it now has potential to be something else, something magenta but not an American flag.

gelatin print of the american flag by linda germain new england printmaker and teacher

Hand printed flag for Independence Day Read More »

Masking stencil print

2010 / /

simple stencil print by linda germainToday I kept the stencil print simple

  • I found a bright and chaotic gelatin print in my pile of index cards
  • Inked the gelatin plate with the blackest black/blue I could mix up
  • set the masking stencil on top of the inked gelatin plate
  • then printed on to my chaotic colorful gelatin plate print

This stencil print

  • uses a masking stencil that I cut out of 90 lb drawing paper
  • coated with mat medium several time and
  • was created from a photo of my nephew.

You could easily print this with out a gelatin plate, just dab paint on to the print paper by hand while holding the masking stencil in place.  But I try to use the gelatin plate when ever I can.

If you have not tried gelatin printing yet, well then do it!  

  1. Make a gelatin plate here’s the video tutorial or
  2. Follow the written instructions on how to make a plate for gel printing
  3. After the gel sets up and does not wiggle!!! then put it in the refrigerator at least for a few hours.  I like to leave it over night.  Or skip all this and buy a gelli plate
  4. Gather paper and inks or paints, stamping tools and masking stencils
  5. and Play all Day!
  6. then Share your success with the gelatin printmaking flickr group and the Facebook group
  7. Be Sure to check the FAQ page if you have any questions about gelatin printing.

Happy Printing!

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Easy Printmaking with great results

monotype print / /

father and son silhouette a gelatin print by linda germainI am always amazed with the amount of detail that is possible with gelatin printmaking.  That is why I continue to do it day after day.

Easy Printmaking

For today’s ICAD 4 x 6 gelatin print –

I am so happy that I committed to doing the index card a day challenge.  It has –

  1. got me gelatin printing daily
  2. posting images on line daily
  3. thinking about my process more
  4. learning how to share that process
  5. feeling good about keeping a commitment
  6. connecting with like minded people

WOW – that is a lot of good from one little index card print a day!  It is not too late to give yourself the chance to have these benefits and more.  Just jump in the group and start making something on an index card each day and then share it with the flickr or Facebook groups.

 

Tools for gelatin print of the day by linda germain

I have included a picture of

  • the cameo machine
  • my other gelatin plate prints
  • the stencil and
  • the photo that was my reference for this gelatin plate monotype print

If you are new to my way of easy gelatin printmaking then check out these online resources to get you printing and having fun.

Happy Printing!

Easy Printmaking with great results Read More »