fabric prints Archives - Page 4 of 11

Painted abstract Landscapes on the gelatin plate

fabric prints / Linda Germain / February 20, 2018

Once in a while I put down my usual mark making tools and brayers and grab a few paint brushes to make some abstract landscapes.

In the landscapes above I used 3 different approaches.

Left – bold quick paint makes with lots of paint and thick and thinner brushes.
Middle – I used a photo of a local place as a reference.
Right – Is the “ghost” impression, or second impression and gives a lighter more subtle impression and added hand sewing.

If you would like to explore gelatin printmaking on fabric then check out the details of the online printmaking class, Monoprinting on Fabric. Class starts soon.

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What can you do with Monoprinted Fabric?

fabric prints / Linda Germain / February 19, 2018

I love making gelatin printed fabric. So you can imagine that I have a big pile of fabric for projects.

I must confess that I like creating the patterned and printed fabric more than completing projects. I love the unpredictable layering process of monoprinting fabric with the gelatin plate.

Some ways that I have used the hand printed fabric:

Pillows made with gelatin printed fabric

Book cover made with monoprinted fabric

Coasters made with gelatin printed fabric

I have pieced gelatin printed fabric and then added hand sewing and matted and framed the art work. I also mounted some fabric prints on to wooden blocks.

Book marks, a coffee cover and quilting squares.

This tote bag was really fun to print with a tiny piece of gelatin.

This was an odd shaped remnant that I trimmed and made a small apron for the studio.

So you can do almost anything you would do with commercially printed fabric, with your monoprinted fabric. There are some factors to consider:

Washability will depend on the ink or paint that you use
Smooth hand again depends on the inks and how many layers you use.
Perfect repetition should not be the goal when working with the gelatin plate
Fluid and abstract marks are often easier to obtain with the gelatin plate
Small pieces of fabric are easier to work with, so consider projects that can be pieced together after printing.

If you would like to explore Monoprinting Fabric with the gelatin plate, then check out the details of the upcoming printmaking workshop. Read the details here. The 4 week online printmaking workshop starts March 12th.

Monoprintng on Fabric – Student work from Linda Germain on Vimeo.

Other fabric projects that I am considering:

Stretchy headband
Pieced wall hanging
Tea Towel

Got any great uses for your hand printed fabric???

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Texture, textiles and monoprinting

fabric prints / Linda Germain / February 14, 2018

Do you like texture and textiles?

Is there something that moves you in close to a fabric and makes you want to touch it? Try to identify whose qualities that move you.

That is how I feel about mixed media art and printmaking. I love layered textures that make me want to get closer to the artwork.

When I see textured objects I often wonder can I use that for printmaking? And often the answer is YES.

Especially when printing with the gelatin plate. The gelatin plate is soft and malleable. This allows for the creation and transfer of delicate marks with mere hand pressure.

It is quite exciting to make beautiful marks and patterns with your own hands.

Whether you like to:

collect fabric
makes stuff with fabric or
create unique fabric

you are probably inspired by texture and pattern.

I challenge you to notice what it is that inspires you and collect 5 bits of inspiration that you could use to inspire your next work of art.

The key is to collect a bit of inspiration and then turn that inspiration into action.

Move beyond the collection stage.

In the book cover above I used the following for inspiration and action:

Potato masher to lift off and apply ink
Tiny flat grasses
Recycled sheet to print on
Embroidery thread
Stash of gelatin printed fabrics

If you think that you would like to explore gelatin printmaking on fabric, then read the details about the upcoming online printmaking class, Monoprinting Fabric.

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Printing from Manhole cover

fabric prints, relief prints / Linda Germain / October 16, 2017

I have seen the wonderful videos floating around by https://raubdruckerin.de I have been looking for some local manhole covers that might make an interesting print.

I have admired the texture and patterns of things in the street for years.

I was searching for a safe place to print from a manhole cover. And a place that was a little inconspicuous.

I used this pattern to make a screen print many years ago. Do you notice what is at your feet?

Get in close and see if from a new angle. You might be inspired.

I found this one right near the shop. It is one the side walk instead of the street. So I could safely play with making some prints.

I pulled a couple of prints on some old t-shirts. I was quite pleased with the impression. This is a mirror image so the you can read the printing.

I think that the asymmetrical placement of the marks is interesting. It takes quite bit of ink to get the surface “primed” so it would be better to print several at a time.

I encourage you to pause and notice the textures and patterns at your feet. Who knows it may inspire your next printmaking session.

Embrace the beauty before you. Be inspired.

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Dyeing with Rit Dye

fabric prints, monotype print / Linda Germain / October 8, 2017

I cycle through working with fabric at different times. Recently I was admiring indigo fabrics and thought I would give it a try.

I am super sensitive to fumes and chemicals, so I used the liquid Rit Dye. That way I did not have to deal with mixing powders. I was going to follow some of the indigo recipes and mix black and blue, but I found that I really liked the Denim Blue alone.

I am not sure how long the open bottle will last but I have had it for a couple of weeks and I am still able to get a nice blue. I am not aiming for perfect even coverage though.