Monoprinting large piece of Fabric

fabric prints / /
A yard of monoprinted fabric - Linda Germain
A yard of monoprinted fabric – Linda Germain

The gelatin and glycerin printing plate is small, but that does not have to limit the size of the fabric that you want to customize with your own design.

In this piece, I use a small round piece of the gelatin plate and used it like a stamp to print several layers of circles.

Things to do when printing a larger piece of cloth:

  • Iron the fabric
  • Set up a slightly padded surface to print on
  • Stick the small piece of gelatin to a small piece of plexiglass
  • Ink the plate and stamp away

Use your imagination and play!

If you would like to explore this process with a group of like minded artists then sign up for the special interest list below.

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Make Monotypes – Focus on Fiber – Printing on Fabric will open soon.

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New Monoprints on Fabric with Screen Print ink

video / /

I have been busy pulling monotype prints on the homemade glycerin and gelatin printing plate.  This is getting to be more fun everyday.

I did a quick video of a bunch of test prints. Watch it and be inspired. I used the Versatex Screen printing inks in most of these monoprints.

I am happy with the density of coverage of the ink.  It dries in a day or so and can be layered then.

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What can you do with 25 pennies?

stencils / /
Sink leaves in water and glycerin mix for 2 to 3 days to preserve.
Submerge leaves in a water and glycerin bath for several days to preserve.

I know you have jars, cups and containers of those pretty pennies.

I do!

We can’t buy much with 25 pennies these days. So let’s put those pennies to work.

A couple of my students shared with me that they preserve leaves with a glycerin bath.

So I googled the process and found that you mix 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water and to submerge the leaves for several days.

This is where the pennies come in. I used the pennies to weight down the leaves and ferns.

It takes some planning and patience. But I am encouraged by the results.

I preserved a fern this way and used it to print with screen printing inks on cotton fabric, with the glycerin and gelatin plate.

I think these steps will help the process:

  • Choose natural materials that are still a little green (not dried up)
  • Smash the end of the stem to open it up and aid in the absorption
  • Be patient
  • Blot them to remove the glycerin bath
  • Store them flat
  • Use a shallow flat plastic container and cover with a sealed lid to save the bath for another day

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Printmaking tools just outside my Door

tools / /
Construction fence, japanese newspaper, sketch from the machine shop and some huge leaves - all for printmaking play - linda germain
Construction fence, japanese newspaper, sketch from the machine shop and some huge leaves – all for printmaking play – linda germain

Today, I decided that I was going to have some fun, explore a bit and see if I could find some printmaking inspiration.

With the intention set, I began my day.  Just a few steps outside my studio door and I began to find some “new” printmaking tools.

  1. Construction fencing will work great for what I call a “brayer rubbing”
  2. The giant leaves are soaking an a glycerin and water bath to preserve them.
  3. Chinese or  japanese newspaper from the recycle bin next door.
  4. A sketch from the machine shop

My day had barely started and I had already collected more than enough printmaking tools for experimentation.

I printed with Jacquard Textile paints to create some monoprints on cotton fabric. These paints are more fluid than the Versatex screen printing inks that I tried yesterday.

When the printmaking ink/paint is more fluid, then it may not be able to hold the detailed impression. The ink/paint starts to run together and the resulting monoprint can be somewhat fuzzy.

This detail impression is very important to me. It is what makes printing with the glycerin and gelatin plate so amazing. Fine detail similar to an etching is possible with mere hand pressure and the right stencil material.

Check the current workshop list for a class that would interest you.

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Inks & paints for printing on Fabric with the Gelatin plate

fabric prints, monotype print / /
monotype printing on fabric with the gelatin plate by linda germain
monoprinting on fabric with the gelatin plate

I am playing with all types of printmaking inks and paints for making prints on fabric with the gelatin and glycerin plate.

I am looking for inks that are compatible with the water based printing plate.

I am drawn to the type of fine detailed impressions that are possible on the homemade glycerin plate. I am always amazed at the fine details that are possible with mere hand pressure and the gelatin and glycerin plate.

It is important to me that the inks permit the printing of these types of detailed impressions.

The perfect ink will:

  • roll out thin layer with brayer
  • hold the edge of a detailed mark
  • stay alive/workable as long as possible
  • non-toxic and low fumes
  • dry fixed on the fabric

The monoprints in the photo were printed with the Versatex screen printing inks. I am pleased with these inks so far.  A bonus is that they work well with paper too.

These screen printing inks have a nice consistency and they roll up nicely on the glycerin and gelatin printing plate.

If you would like to learn more about Monoprinting Fabric with inks and the gelatin plate read all the details on the self study workshop page.

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