Make a Prayer flag w/ Gelatin Prints

2010, gelatin prints on fabric / /

 

© linda germain – pray flag from gelatin plate monotype prints

A couple of weekends ago a few fabulous fiber gals from the lowell fiber studio came over to my workshop for a day of gelatin printing on fabric.  Then  they kindly invited me to a fiber feast at their studio, a delicious pot luck, good discussion and sharing of work.

This challenged me to do something with my gelatin prints on fabric.

I did a little research about prayer flags and want to keep it simple and retain some of the traditional symbolism.  To make the flags –

  1. Found prints in the 5 colors, blue, white, red, green and yellow
  2. Did a little touch up printing with and old gelatin plate to get the colors stronger
  3. Cut the 5 flags all the same size
  4. I wrote some stream of consciousness “prayers” about the 5 elements, sky, air, fire, water and earth, on the surface of the flags.
  5. Machine sewing  to reflect the energy of the element
  6. Topped them all off with the dragon fly thermofax screen print
  7. Strung them on a cord
  8. Hung them in front of my window to enjoy
I read that a sunny windy morning is the best time to hang a prayer flag.  And that is just what I got today!  I can’t wait to watch the flags slowly deteriorate and the prayers go into the wind.
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Gelatin Printing on a large plate 16 x 20

2010, Uncategorized / /
© linda germain 2013 small, medium and “large” gelatin plate prints

It is hard to judge scale with online pictures so I laid out some prints of the size that I usually do on the right side, the ferns and the grasses. That way you can compare the 16 x 20 size of the prints with the figure.

Today I used the akua color inks.  I found that I could pull several images from just one inking of the plate.  That is nice because often the delicate light ghost images can create another level of interest in a gelatin monotype print.
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If you are looking to take a class please check out my current schedule of gelatin printmaking classes.

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Gelatin Plates for every size project

gelatin plate tips / /
© linda germain 2013 Gelatin printing plates in different sizes

The picture shows you

  1. tiny round gelatin “plates” that I made in a cupcake pan, (top left),
  2. the 5″ x 7″ gelatin plate that I made in a recycled styrofoam produce tray ( bottom left)
  3. the  10″ by 13″ that a formed in the cookie sheet from the dollar store (middle)  this one is quite old and falling apart but I love that and finally
  4. the 16″ x 20″ gelatin printing plate that I made  in an old picture frame lined with thick 4 mil. plastic.  See the picture below for the “form”
The 10 x 13 is the standard size that I use.  It is big enough to use medium size stencils and offers a lot of options as far as design and composition.  It fits easily in the refrigerator.  It works well will standard 9″ x 12″ paper.
I had some fun inking and hand printing the tiny round pieces.
The produce tray size is good for cards and takes up very little space in the refrigerator. This one is about a month old.  It is easy to melt it down in the microwave and reshape it too. Video here
The 16″ x 20″  is an experiment to see how it would be printing on that size and to see if I could even do it.  It is cold in the studio so I am just leaving it out.  Maybe 55 degrees fahrenheit.  Here’s a picture of the picture frame and plastic form.
The frame is an inexpensive metal frame that I had in the studio.  You could use whatever you have laying around to create a well.  I left the glass in the bottom and I taped strip of mat board around the edge to keep the plastic straight.  The next day I just lifted the plastic right out of the frame/form. Video here.  Please note that I used heavy duty plastic for the 16 x 20 gelatin slab.
Share a picture of your gelatin plate with the gelatin printmaking flickr group or Facebook page
Happy Printing

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Repeat but Vary – composition in Gelatin Printing

gelatin plate tips / /
© linda germain  – gelatin print with twigs
Along with the idea to keep it simple, another compositional guide that I keep in the back of  my mind  is to repeat a shape and vary it slightly.  This is easy to go in gelatin printmaking because you can use the same masking stencil and just position it differently.  Or you could make stencils of a similar shape and the vary the size.

So as you are in the flow of gelatin printmaking, notice if or when you could repeat a pattern, shape, texture, mark or design.  Then ask your self whether it improved the composition or  not.

In this print –

  1. I kept it simple with just layering two colors
  2. I repeated the twig shape and varied the placement.
  3. I think it worked.
This is not something I consciously think about,  it is just in the back of mind.  If if things are not working out, then I might ask  – could it be simpler?  could I repeat a patter or shape.
If you would like to pick my brain for everything GELATIN PRINTING then be sure to join me for the first ever Gelatin Printmaking Monothon in Austin, TX on April, 5, 6, and 7.  Register early and save.

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