Repeat but Vary – composition in Gelatin Printing

gelatin plate tips / /
© linda germain  – gelatin print with twigs
Along with the idea to keep it simple, another compositional guide that I keep in the back of  my mind  is to repeat a shape and vary it slightly.  This is easy to go in gelatin printmaking because you can use the same masking stencil and just position it differently.  Or you could make stencils of a similar shape and the vary the size.

So as you are in the flow of gelatin printmaking, notice if or when you could repeat a pattern, shape, texture, mark or design.  Then ask your self whether it improved the composition or  not.

In this print –

  1. I kept it simple with just layering two colors
  2. I repeated the twig shape and varied the placement.
  3. I think it worked.
This is not something I consciously think about,  it is just in the back of mind.  If if things are not working out, then I might ask  – could it be simpler?  could I repeat a patter or shape.
If you would like to pick my brain for everything GELATIN PRINTING then be sure to join me for the first ever Gelatin Printmaking Monothon in Austin, TX on April, 5, 6, and 7.  Register early and save.

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One Hint for Composing a Gelatin Monotype Print

gelatin print tips / /

 

© linda germain Gelatin print on a dictionary page

I like to just play when I am gelatin printing.  But I do think that I have a few compositional rules in the back of my head that guide me.

One of the rule that I use keep is simple.  Often my gelatin monotypes can get dull, muddy or chaotic.  So I work up lots of prints and learn from each one.  Then take what I learned and create a simplified version keeping the marks that I like and avoiding the ones I don’t like. So If you look at some of my printsyou will see that often I use two colors and 2 to 3 stencils of shapes.

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Getting into the Holiday Spirit

2010, Uncategorized / /
© linda germain – shaping gelatin prints into christmas trees and houses

Just mailed out some holiday cards.  And the post office was not insanely busy.  I was inspired by Susan Gaylord’s recent blog post to create peace trees/books.  She is a wonderful resource for fun and easy book forms.  She also has some day long bookmaking events.  look here for info.

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