Make Many to get a Print you Like

Thermo fax print on top of glycerin plate monotype by linda germain
Thermo fax print on top of glycerin plate monotype by linda germain

We often share our best work and then folks think, “Oh, she just pulls perfect prints all the time. ”  Well I know that is not true for me and that I have to make many prints to get one or two that I like.  I work with the idea of, “Try it and see what happens.”

So today is  day 2 of Make My Mark in May.   I made a thermo fax screen of a line drawing that I did a few weeks back.  Then I dug through some monotype prints to find one that might make a good foundation for the screen print.

I was looking for something “quiet” and light, so it would let the line drawing be the focus.

linda_germain_IMG_6135

If you think you might like to embrace this way to creating and exploring printmaking then, you might want to check out my online course, Make Monotypes.  Registration for the next session opens Wednesday, May 7th.  Don’t wait this class fills up fast. Email me if you have questions.

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Make Your Mark in May

Thermo Fax screen print by Linda Germain
Thermo Fax screen print by Linda Germain

So I am going to make a monotype print each day in May.  Today’s print is a screen print on a wallpaper sample.  It is 5″ x 7″ and printed with black acrylic ink. Lightroom is giving me trouble – “error message the file were not imported because they could not be read”  Hmm?  What is going on? Off to google to find an answer.

Happy Printing

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Consider alternative papers for Making Monotypes

alternative papers for Make Monotypes
alternative papers for Make Monotypes

You know I love to use what I have, rather than go buy a new gadget.  I have plenty of paper and I notice and collect “found” papers. The Haverhill Public Library has a book sale every season and I collect a bag of books for making monotype prints.

This black-out poem could become the substrate for a print, or a bit of collage in an artist’s book.  What about you?  Do you like delicious, expensive printmaking paper?  Or would consider printing on something from the recycling bin?

Next session of Make Monotypes – June 2nd – register on May 7th.

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Piecing Monotype Prints together

Monotypes - papers with potential - Linda Germain
Monotypes – papers with potential – Linda Germain

I make lots of monotype prints.  I consider them papers with potential.  You could look at them a imperfect prints and failures.  But I prefer to see:

  • opportunities for learning
  • fun in the afternoon with no pressure to produce and
  • foundations for more printing

This mixed media print above started out as several monotypes pulled on the gelatin plate.  Then I piece them together, added the figures with soft carve relief stamps and then topped it off with some random stitching.

What do you see possibilities or problems?  What would you like to see?

If you see possibilities, then you may be interested in the next session of Make Monotypes.  It is a 6 week online printmaking course.  Check out the details.  Registration is going to open May 7th.  This class fills up fast.

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