Recently, I have been going back to the basic tool in printmaking – the brayer.
Sometimes I want a nice thin and even layer of ink. And other times I let the nature of the roller and texture of the ink be a key part of the design.
In the book cover above I used a modified roller to get the textured lines. And yet I love the smooth texture of the landscape print below.
If you are new to using a brayer and you are seeking a smooth application of ink it can be frustrating. It really does take time and practice to get the brayer to do what you want it to do.
So give yourself a break. Factors that affect a brayers release of ink on the plate:
- Viscosity of the ink
- Pressure of you hand
- Speed and motion of the roll
- Air temperature and humidity
- Size of the roller
- Width of the roller
- Type of roller
- Type of ink and type of plate
Have you developed your own style of using your brayer to create marks, impressions and prints?
If you need a little help choosing a brayer for gelatin printing on paper check out this blog post.
I have been making so many brayered prints that I am making them into books using the drum leaf binding.
The drum leaf structure opens flat and does not require any sewing. I like to make small journals for quick sketches. And because they are easy to make the books feel less precious and I am willing to fill them with notes and sketches.