Well, this is the method that I use to create a gelatin plate monotype prints that I would like to sell, frame and share. I share this picture above which shows you that I make at least 10 prints to get one or two that I really love. So these are my steps to success –
- Find an image that really speaks to you. This one is my sister on her horse Teddy.
- Look at the image as a black and white silhouette
- Use photo editing tools or your drawing skills to simplify the image, but try keep some of those important details
- You will find lots of videos on line to help you create the image
- Give yourself a break and allow our first few to be less than “perfect”
- Use the pre-ink the stencil method to create an image like the ones above. You have many other options this is just one way.
- Use paper and ink that allow you to create with abandon. Be generous to yourself.
- Then start making prints
- Look at and identify what you like and put that mark into the next print
- Let go of the parts/marks that you don’t like
- Make at least 10-20 prints
If you follow those steps I am sure you will create some pleasing gelatin plate prints that you are happy with.
For example
- I found the photo of my sister
- Used photoshop and Silouhette – cameo to cut it out. Borrowed the machine from another sister. Oh dear – I am loving it.
- The images I printed go left to right and bottom to top. So you may notice a progress. Notice what marks I liked and kept for the later prints.
- I liked the dark horse shape
- I added browns and blues to the horse shape
- I made the watery area blue
- I like the lighter orange
- I liked the more mottled or textured background
- I liked the horse lower on the horizon line.
The things that I let go of were –
- solid black silhouette
- very centered image
- flat colors
I would summarize this gelatin printmaking method as “print a lot and keep what you like.” I invite you to try it and let me know if you like it.
Happy Printing!
Great advice! I’m curious to hear more about the stencil cutting gadget from your sister.
check out google – silhouette cameo. It is a machine that does the cutting for me based on a jpeg. It connects to the computer. good to use if you have lots of tiny details and don’t like to cut.
I really like the result. Yes, I can see you’ve done a lot of changes during the 10-print process and you probably don’t really know which one is saying “keep me” until you sit back and view all of them. Like Cathy, I am also quite surprised at the variety of cut-outs the “Silouhette-Cameo” can do. Must be fun to play with.