I have noticed that I do more printing with grasses in the fall, use Daniel Smith inks in the summer, need to clean my studio in the spring and use photo imagery in winter.
Summer:
- Heat can dry up printing inks and the gelatin plate
- Time – Do I go to the beach or play with the kids or print?
- Fresh air means a great time to work outside and use those “toxic” inks
Fall:
- Back to School – time to take a class and learn from others
- Grasses are delicate but strong at this time of year – good for “stencils”
- Orange, black and brown show up in my prints
Winter:
- Cold temperatures can harden the gelatin plate and stiffen ink
- Snow storms and short days mean it is a great time to connect with others in an online class
- Minimal landscape inspires me to work with black and blue ink only
Spring:
- Hope of all things fresh and new
- Too early for tender grasses
- But just the right time to purge the studio
Once I realized there was a flow to my printmaking, I could accept the limitations and embrace the opportunities that each season presents. What about you? Share your seasonal wisdom in the comments below.
That’s very positive attitude Linda.
My only solution to feeling stuck and lacking inspiration is to go into my studio, clean up and reorganise the chaos that is there. As I do this I start to fiddle with bits of work and gradually get going.
Good thinking Linda, although I don’t have to worry about snow storms! With our warmer, humid weather coming, I rearranged my fridge to have a secure permanent place for storing my gelli plate.
Hi Linda, decided to give you a call from Australia. We are now into Spring. Have been gelli printing madly. With natural leaves and grasses etc. onion skins are great, but as I have been painting and teaching for so long I have a studio full of wonderful bits and pieces.. I don’t have a website but you can view my work on the Artists Society of Canberra website under Experienced Turors. Or on Facebook . Google has some pics on images.
Thanks for the info you send,
Cheers
Val
Hi Linda Its quite few months now since I signed into your course and had lots of fun with my gelatine plate. It’s great that I am still getting news from you,and reminders get back to some more printing! thank you for that. My gelatin plate made way back in February is still looking OK to work with – I covered it in clingfilm and put a glass plate on top. Very Best Wishes Pauline
I agree. there are definitely seasons. I am drawn to the outside for most of the year, wanting to print (inside) but conflicted because that pulls me away from gardening, hiking, and enjoying the long, late, light evenings. However, there is a limited time when dandelions, nasturtiums, tender young vines etc. make their appearance, and working with any kind of smelly stuff (like CitraSolv) is best done outside. It has been very freeing to stop doing craft shows, to create on my own timeframe, not just because of the Fall “buying” season. So maybe there aren’t seasons — just different moods on different days — I am allowed to change my mind — and I do that often! Keep sending us thought provoking messages. S
Love that you’ve noticed this and honoured your passage through the year and seasons Linda. I find it harder to stay inspired in the autumn, and often have a dip but it’s super useful to see that there are seasons for art practice too. Thank you.