What does blowing Bubbles have to so with Printmaking?

gelatin plate tips / /
gelatin prints by linda germain
Fern print was pulled on plain old gelatin plate, Blue girl on bubble blown plate and finally the bubble blown glycerin plate. © 2014 linda germain

When is the last time you blew bubbles?  That’s for kids right?  Well, you know that I embrace the idea – “if you think it, then try it,”  when making monotype prints.

So, I tried blowing bubbles in my glycerin and gelatin printing plate, as it was hardening up.

Why?   Well, some of my favorite monotypes were pulled on an old moldy gelatin plate.  That was before I knew about adding glycerin.  You can watch a quick slideshow of some of those prints here.

As the plain gelatin and water printing plate ages, it develops holes.  These holes cause the ink to transfer to the paper differently.  It is an unpredictable process, but I love the results.  You may want to experiment with your printing plate.

The glycerin plate lasts so long and is so durable, that it does not age and mold the way the plain gelatin and water plate does.  Most people would think that is a good thing.  But I missed the affects of aging gelatin.

Here are 3 things I learned about blowing bubbles in the glycerin plate:

  • Try different size straws
  • Experiment with a small plate
  • If you don’t like it melt it down and try again

If you give this process a try, then share your results with the gelatin printmaking flickr group.

Happy Printing,
Linda Germain

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Did you ever dream of being in the olympics?

inspiration / /
gelatin print of a woman with raised arms by linda germain
hands up

Are you inspired by the Olympic athletes?  Did you dream of competing as a kid?  Or do you see them as an interruption of your regular TV programing?

I was struck by the differing reactions of two US athletes, who both had just won a bronze medal in their events.  One was in tears because, it was not the gold she was slated to win, and the other was jumping up and down with shouts of pure joy.  They both had won the same medal, and yet had nearly opposite experiences.

How do you respond to the events of your day with joy? or disappointment? How about in your art making?  Do you see less than perfect results as failure or opportunity?

If you would like to see”failure” as opportunity, and want to play with printmaking, then check out the next session of Make Monotypes.  Registration opens on February 21st.  (This class filled in less than 24 hours, so make sure you are on this list.)

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Free Inspiration, but…..

inspiration / /

free inspiration at your feet by lindagermain

You have to take the steps, and get out of the studio/house/office and walk around.  My mind gets cloudy and overwhelmed with stuff, to do lists, should do lists, want to do lists, and then I get nothing done.  I drink a lot of coffee and check email and Facebook numerous times. Still not much gets done.

It seems counter productive to go for a walk to get things done, but it always works for me.  I take a 20 minute walk around the rail trail, and I can always get  some clarity or inspired action for my current project. Try it!

If you would like to be inspired into action around your printmaking habits, then check out the current online workshops.

 

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