Making your own Stencils for printmaking

monotype print, stencils / /

Stencils are a great way to print without a press.

They can be as simple as torn paper and as complex as the multi layered stencils used by artists like Shepard Fairey. Each color would be a different stencil and they would all be perfectly lined up (registered).

masking stencil and hole stencil for printmaking

 

I use two kinds of stencils:

  1. Traditional “hole” stencil – that ink is gently pushed through and the print is made
  2. Masking Stencil – is used to block the transfer of ink to the surface and
  3. I use the masking stencil when combined with the gelatin plate as a “stamp”

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Watch the video below and get some ideas for making stencils of your own.

The wonderful thing about making your own stencils is that the imagery can be very personal and meaningful to your work. And you can just take a few moments to create the prefect image that you would like to incorporate into your work.

Stencils can last for years and be used to make hundreds of prints. It depends on the material that they are made of and how tough you are with them.

More help for making your own stencils:

Want to make your own stencils with the help of a teacher and inspiration from other students? Join us in the next session of Make Stencils, the online printmaking class. Read the details here.

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The coloring book craze could lead to drawing

drawings / /

Coloring is fun and might inspire drawing and doodling. I am intrigued by the books and the designs.

I just look. Most of the books are too detailed for me and I am not really a stay inside the lines kinda girl.

coloring books to inspire drawings

But I did  allow myself to purchase a small coloring book at the dollar store. And I used it to inspire doodles.

It is a flower and leaf book. So I looked at:

  • the leaves
  • the stems
  • the petal and
  • patterns

Thermofax screen of leaf drawing

I simplified the patterns and then I made a couple of Thermofax screens. The thermofax process is great for small designs that are basically line drawing.

  • I made a carbon based photocopy of my drawing.
  • Placed it next to the emulsion coated screen
  • Ran it through my machine
  • Taped the edges and
  • Printed on this sack cloth

screen printing fabric with thermofax screen

I did a couple different doodle leaves and then made thermofax screens.

leaf drawing as reference for thermofax screen

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Drawings as a matrix for printmaking

monotype print / /

Use your drawings to create printing plates.

block print of cityscape based on drawing

If you have been following me for a while, then you know I don’t love to draw. So I find ways to “maximize” my drawings. That means that I take a drawing and turn it into a printing matrix.

types of printmaking from one drawing

The drawing might become:

  • a trace monoprint
  • a relief block
  • a foam plate
  • a thermofax screen or
  • a stencil for making monotypes

If you are like me and love to make stuff, but would rather play with ink, layer, and texture than do drawings then check out the current online printmaking classes.

I did a city scape inspired by the roof tops in my town. There was no exciting skyline, so I just did some sketches of the details that I was attracted to.

sketches for printmaking

Then I combined the different sketches into a skyline. I think I have enough sketches to last me quite a while. I could not fit them all into one drawing.

computer print out of drawing for printmaking

I used my printer to make a few copies. I also printed a mirror image and an inverted image. These types of copies help when designing relief blocks and trace monoprints.

relief stamped cityscape

I will do some more experimenting with these relief stamps, but I do like how they capture the feel of the old mill town that I live in.

trace monoprint of city skyline

The trace monoprint above was done pretty quickly, so the ink would not dry. I may add some collage to the bottom of the buildings.

Ghost of trace monoprint

I was pleased with this ghost impression of the print above. I used a heavy weight printmaking paper, soaked and blotted it. Then laid it on top of the left over ink and burnished with an old door knob. Because I am working with water based inks, this does not always work. Today I was lucky.

trace monoprint with collage

I used tea bags to create a collage and then did the trace monoprint. I like the idea. I just think the tea bags are a little to dark and over powering. I will try something else to create a background next time.

So check out the details of the SEE draw and print, online printmaking workshop. It may be just what you need to give your drawing and printmaking a boost.

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Check out new Trace Monoprint gallery

trace monoprint / /

A trace monoprint is a simple way of printing without a press. Paul Klee did a lot of trace monoprinting. I found a trace monotype print by Paul Gauguin as well.

Trace monoprint on newsprint
Trace monoprint on newsprint

I did this little trace monotype print based on a sketch of a sculpture at the MFA. It is a very quick and expressive process. You might even ask why bother? Why not just make a drawing?

Well I think the beauty of trace monoprint process it is about:

  • line quality
  • giving up control
  • expressive rendering of the image

Check out my gallery of trace monoprints here.

 

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Easy line drawing and printing

drawings / /

I love loose line drawings. I think they can be very expressive. The cool thing is these quick line drawings can be the beginning of a printed mark.

foam plate relief print of figure

Many years ago, when I started exploring printmaking I did this contour line drawing of a man with glasses. I am sure that it did not take very long, but there was something about it that I liked.

Soft Relief plate for printmaking

Recently, I made another printing plate from the same drawing. I used sticky back craft foam that I mounted on to another piece of recycled styrofoam.

I used a ball point pen to make the drawing and recess the line. Then I quickly painted the surface with watercolors and let it dry.

soft printing plate and relief print

I let the paint dry completely on the foam plate. I soaked some heavy weight printing paper and finally I used my new Xpress Xcut craft machine to make the print.

relief print of man

Of course you could be more careful and exact when applying colors and paint, but I do like the bold and loose nature of this print.

If you want to be inspired to embrace your drawing style check out these posts:

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