monotype print

Even with low tech printmaking processes, the resulting impression varies quite a bit.

I have been playing with soft plate relief prints and the process of making a mark is much slower that gelatin printmaking, but the style of print cannot be attained with the gel print process.

The gray and black images above are relief prints made with soft foam plates and black and sepia image is a gel print. The each have a different feel.

When I get into relief printing mode, I simply and get more graphic. Where as my gel prints can be more fluid and textural.

For me gelatin printing is fast and spontaneous. I can pull a lot prints in a short period of time. I like that!

I use trace monoprinting techniques when I want an expressive loose line drawing.

When I am trying to get flat uniform layers, I use screen printing processes.

 

If I want to get a detailed, fine line impression I use an emulsion style screen.

So even if you are printmaking at home without a fancy studio, it is possible to make many different kinds of prints.

The magic happens when you take some of the techniques and combine them with bookmaking, drawing or collage.

Happy printing!

One way to approach a day of gelatin printmaking is to grab 3 stencils and a stack of paper and print with abandon.

I did that with a bird, branch and moon stencil. Enjoy the evolution of a series of prints.

I like to keep it simple and make tiny changes in ink or stencils or placement. Those tiny changes can make a big impact.

If you would like to explore gelatin printmaking with me, then join us in the online printmaking class, Make Monotypes .

It is a 4 week class in which we will print with ink on paper, using the gelatin plate.

It is ok to print with the same colors and subject matter! All the famous artists do it.

I love blue and yellow. And I really love printing with thin flat weeds and grasses.

Today I challenged my readers to pull 10 prints.  I often do this for myself when I just need to get started. Before I know it I have a pile of prints and even a few that I like.

I invite you to drop everything and go pull 10 prints. Enjoy!

Today I tested some stencils and played with colors that I usually don’t like.

I made a bunch of ugly prints. But then I had the idea to over print the prints with my favorite color and favorite stencil to see if I could save any of the ugly prints.

And it worked for a few of the prints. 🙂

Yesterday I made a small gelatin and water printing plate. The plate was about 3/4″ inch thick and in a 5″ x 7″ acrylic box. That is kind of thick.

When I pried it out of the box frame the underside cracked a bit. That is not the end of the plate. I could still print with it.

So I just cut up the plate, put it into a glass measuring cup and microwaved it for a couple of minutes.

The glass measuring cup is great because it makes it very easy to pour the gelatin into the pan, no dribbly mess.

Then to make the gelatin plate a bit thinner, I poured the melted mixture into a bigger pan. This will make it easier to get out of the pan. And then hopefully this simple gelatin and water plate will not crack.

If you would like to explore gelatin printmaking, then join us in Make Monotypes, the online printmaking course. Read the details on the workshop page.