collage

Simple sometimes works when gelatin printmaking.  I often work in a roller coaster like fashion

• going up the hill to chaos and 
• then back down the other side to simplicity
• find success somewhere along the way

Go with the Flow when Gelatin Printing

I am thinking about the class I am teaching this week.  Hmm 90 degree weather today.  It is suppose to cool off by Thursday.  I will have to just go with the flow.

• Let go of the things I can not control
• Embrace the prints, images and tools that are working
• Don’t expect things to be the same on another day

One way that I get into the flow is my yoga printmaking warm up exercise.  If you have not seen that video then check it out here.

The things that I like about this little 4″ x 6″ gelatin print  for the ICAD challenge:

• full range of value
• 3 simple shapes
• the shapes are similar but varied sizes
• The shapes create negative spaces that are interesting.
• I like th contrast of the delicate squares in the background and the bold circles in the foreground.

I put together a new video yesterday and will share it with you soon.  Join us in the next session of Make Monotypes, the online printmaking class.

If you are a gelatin printmaker like me then you have stacks of printed papers the have potential but are not finished pieces of art.  Today I played with the idea of torn paper abstract landscape.

• I started with gelatin prints that were primarily one value, light, medium or dark
• The prints were mostly textural not images
• I was able to use parts of print because the landscape is only 4″ x 6″
• I tore the paper and noticed where the white edge appeared.
• I positioned the papers to divide up the space into 3 different sized area a large space, medium space and tiny space.
• I glued them down from top to bottom
• I trimmed up the edged

I think that I will have to play with this some more.

• I need to dig deeper into my stash of gelatin prints to find papers with the right marks, values and textures.
• I will look for other landscapes for inspiration
• Be happy with the surprises

I am sharing this print and all the gelatin plate prints from June and July with the gang in the ICAD challenge.  It is not to late to start.  I have always admired those daily makers.  And now I am one of them. 🙂

• To join the Index Card A Day (ICAD) challenge go over to Daisy Yellow.
• Get some cards
• And Play!
• And Share with the flickr group and the facebook group

Today I used some demo prints to cut shapes to make my gelatin print for the ICAD.  It took longer than I thought it would.  I used

• glue sticks
• scissors
• and a few practice prints
• charcoal for scribbles and
• a stamp set for words

I was thinking about

• organic shapes
• balance
• repetition but variety
• Value changes and
• bright and dull

In this gelatin print…..

I had to remember to play and to let go of the idea of perfection.   Hmmm seems like I have to remind myself of that one a lot.

Happy Printing!

Explore gelatin printmaking with the homemade gelatin and glycerin plate in Make Monotypes, the online printmaking class.