Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

On the Run – Print without a press

2010 / Linda Germain / July 8, 2013

Why I love gelatin printing? Because of the details that can be transferred to the paper without having a press.

Print without a Press

at home
with simple tools
non toxic materials
easy clean up

and you get

fantastic results
loads of fun
plenty of prints to share

Here’s a video about working small and making Artists Trading Cards. Enjoy!

To see some more videos about gelatin printmaking and printing without a press check out my videos page.

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Walk with Attitude – Gelatin Monotype

2010, video / Linda Germain / July 7, 2013

Some times you just have to strut your stuff!

Bold Gelatin Monotype

speedball inks
index card
unsuccessful print underneath
flip flop sole as stamping tool
used technique in the video below to get the figure really dark

This image is another one that I got from Francesco. I am trying to take some shadow photos and other silhouette to create some images of my own. I did cut some silhouettes of my nephews that are working well.

I used the second inking technique shown in the video above. If I don’t get a good transfer of ink the first time, or with the pre-inking process then

I ink the stencil
Put it aside
Set the gelatin monotype print on the gelatin plate right side up
then place the stencil inside down on the print
cover with newsprint
and burnish.

The ink should be nice and wet and squishy to transfer. You always have options.

Happy Printing!

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Cool hand pulled original print on a HOT day

2010, video / Linda Germain / July 6, 2013

These bright colors are fun to work with. I often work with inks straight out of the tube with out mixing to get just the right color.

colors can get dull pretty quick
primary colors are more intense
layering the primary colors keeps the colors crisper

Hand Pulled Print

3 colors of speed ball ink, magenta, yellow and blue
2 masking stencils
inked just sections of the plate with certain colors

Pretty soon I am going to take a look at my wall of index cards and identify all the benefits that I have gained by doing the ICAD challenge. I have to make more space on the wall for the ever growing collection of index card hand pulled original print.

I joined the 21 Secrets – art journalling group a couple of days ago. It is a really deal. For the Christmas in July price of $49.00, I get 21, projects, lessons, gifts, tutorials from 21 different teacher. Tammy from Daisy Yellow is offering a watercolor class.

I think I may have found a use for those piles of less than lovely gelatin plate prints that I have filling up my studio.

I followed Rae Missigman‘s instructions to make a coptic stitch book from recycled stuff in her GO GREEN class. I have made a few coptic stitch books but always suffered and struggled with them. Well her video was so perfect. No more fear of the coptic stitch for me. I kinda did my own thing with the cover of the book and skipped a lot of the steps that she offered, but I am really happy with it.

I used –

an old Nancy Drew book
gelatin prints for the pages
kite string that I waxed
dictionary pages on the spine of the signatures
fabric tape and gesso to make the old book a little more sturdy

I will be sharing my creations with you as I go along! Happy Printing!

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Hands Raised in Joy – a Monotype Print

monotype print / Linda Germain / July 5, 2013

Let’s raise up our hand in joyful celebration. Why not?

Monotype Print

is on a book page and then
attached to the index card for the ICAD challenge
so simple
one step
inked the gelatin plate
laid down the masking stencil
placed the book page on top and
pulled the monotype print

This very moment I have decided to join the Link Love with the others over at Daisy Yellow. This is the deal every friday share 5 fab links with my readers. So here I go

Deek at Relaxshacks is an energy and inspiration to me. I think he will inspire you even if you are not into the Tiny House Movement.
Susan Gaylord is a treasure. She makes books, has tutorials and words of wisdom. She even has a new book out Art Lessons. It is about art as a full time life
I met Lydia Fiedler in Austin, Tx this spring. She has great humor and enthusiasm for mixed media art making. She writes at Understanding Blue.
Be inspired by the watercolor figure painting of Gretchen Kelly
A realist painter who is local to New England, Debbie Shirley amazes me with her skills. Enjoy some of her work here.

I came in a few months late to the Link Love project, but it feels good to share these gems with you.

If you see this bright yellow button you will know they are sharing the love too.

Happy Printing!

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Hand printed flag for Independence Day

2010 / Linda Germain / July 4, 2013

A hand pulled American flag inspired gelatin print today in honor of the 4th of July Independence Day here in the USA. To create this

Hand Printed Monotype

I used to index cards to make my masking stencils
the index cards had the perfect number of lines to get 7 red stripes
I marked the rows that should print red and cut them out
I put a couple strips of tape on the edge to hold the card together
the photo shows you the two masking stencils on the right side
and the 2 gelatin prints that I hand printed on the left

I don’t usually plan and think out my gelatin prints and layers. But this was kind of fun to do today.

You would think by now I would know that things get reversed when printing on the gelatin plate, but no. The first print that I pulled was backwards. Aaahhhh it was only an index card and it now has potential to be something else, something magenta but not an American flag.

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