Printmaking Inspired by spring blossoms

fabric prints / /

I found these delicate little spring blossoms on my way home from the library today. Look at the shape of the petal. So perfect. I am going to do some more stencils based on these gently curving petals

flowers inspiring printmaking

Just yesterday, I cut a few 6 point flowers from some triple folded copy paper. I was pleased with the cutting, but not really a big fan of the shape of the stencil.

kirigami stencil for printing on the gelatin plate

So I cut a rectangular strip of connected flowers and tried printing with them on the glycerin and gelatin plate. Happy with the results. The rectangle is a more familiar shape that will work with my other stash of stencils.

paper stencils printing on fabric with the gel plate

If you want to try cutting some six pointed flowers or snowflake then watch my quick little video. The only tricky part is getting the 60 degree angle of the fold.

Easy 6 point Snowflake from Linda Germain on Vimeo.

Are you new to gelatin printmaking? Do you need the recipe for making the long lasting gelatin and glycerin printing plate?

Make a Glycerin & Gelatin Printing Plate Now!
Get the FREE recipe to make a gel printing plate

Additionally, you will receive a weekly email about printmaking, ideas, tips and courses.

Join us today and start having fun!

Printmaking Inspired by spring blossoms Read More »

Stencils, the gelatin plate and fabric for printing

monotype print / /

I cut another stencil inspired by the Everybody Kirigami book. I cut it on a fold. I used a roll of tape to draw the half circle. Then I made one petal and used it as a template for the other petals. And I used an X-acto knife to cut it out.

abstract flower stencil for printmaking

You know I was impatient and wanted to print with it right away. So I did not take the time to make it strong and durable with lots of coats of mat medium. But it is easy enough to cut a new one for the next project. I used both the masking stencils and the traditional hole stencil.

Masking stencil and hole stencil cut from copy paper for printmaking

I was able to add some blue layers and shapes to some fabric prints that I did last year. I intentionally print off the edge of the fabric and use different size portions of the stencil to create interest.

Monoprint on fabric with the gel plate and stencils

I love how a simple stencil can transform a piece of hand printed fabric. The unique quality about this monoprinting with the gelatin plate process is that it is very fast and spontaneous. This printmaking technique allows for quick layering of slight different marks.

Monotype printmaking with stencils and the glycerin and gelatin plate on fabric

If you have not played with printing with the gelatin plate then check out my FREE recipe and make the plate today!

Make a Glycerin & Gelatin Printing Plate Now!
Get the FREE recipe to make a gel printing plate

Additionally, you will receive a weekly email about printmaking, ideas, tips and courses.

Join us today and start having fun!

Stencils, the gelatin plate and fabric for printing Read More »

Kirigami and making new stencils for Printmaking

stencils / /

I spent 3 hours at the bookstore seeking visual inspiration. I did not really think that I would buy any books, because I am a library girl. But I did find this Kiragami book, Everybody Kirigami! by Mitsuhiko Imamori.

Kirigami Everybody book for stencil making

So I cut some stencils from copy paper, while I was watching re-runs of the Doctor Blake Mysteries. I like to cut stencils from thin and easy to cut paper and then make them stronger with multiple coats of matt medium after the stencil is cut.

Coat paper stencils with mat medium to make them stronger

I know some folks don’t have the patience for this process. But it works for me. I lightly coat one side at a time and move it while it is drying so that it does not stick to the plastic page protector. The weak spots need extra coats.

Gelatin plate monotype on fabric with stencils

I did have to print with them all before I even coated them. I get so excited and the I need to see what the stencil will do when I use it. So I tested each one on some fabric prints in process.

stencil marks on fabric with the gelatin plate

This frog just makes me smile. I am not  really sure how I will use this image. Maybe as a a card image.

traditional stencils for printmaking with the gelatin plate

I picked these up off the floor and could not throw them away. These “hole” stencils can be used as well to make bold shapes, with or with out the gelatin plate. I made these as a by product of the masking stencils and without specific intention.

masking stencils ready for gel printmaking

Where do you look for inspiration for stencils? What materials do you like to use to cut your stencils from? If you would like to make a gelatin and glycerin plate to use with your stencils, get the FREE recipe below.

Make a Glycerin & Gelatin Printing Plate Now!
Get the FREE recipe to make a gel printing plate

Additionally, you will receive a weekly email about printmaking, ideas, tips and courses.

Join us today and start having fun!

Kirigami and making new stencils for Printmaking Read More »

Printing with a fern on fabric

fabric prints / /

Today I added a layer and focus to a few monoprints on fabric.

LindaGermain-4393

I set up my space and gathered a few tools.

Ready to do to monoprinting with the gelatin plate - Linda Germain

I found a few prints that I pulled last week and decided to add some focus and darker marks.

Layering mark and impressions on fabric with the gelatin plate

I picked one sturdy fern that I had preserved with glycerin and water a few weeks ago.

Ferns preserved with glycerin and water for printmaking

I like the uneven and interesting negative shapes that theses fern have.

work space for gelatin printing

I used Versatex screen printing ink and played for about 1/2 hour and I am happy with the results.

Want to Hand Print Unique Fabric?

Join today and get notice of future classes.

You will also get weekly emails about printmaking, tips, tools and classes.

Printing with a fern on fabric Read More »

Is your Sketchbook always with you?

monotype print / /

I noticed that even though I am not the traditional sketchbook artist, I have lots of sketchbooks.

Sketchbooks an artists tool Linda germain

Sometimes I get a new book and think it is too precious to use. Hmm? That is crazy.

The book is my tool to feed my image creation. I guess that crazy thinking comes from wanting all my marks to be perfect. And yet I know that 80% of what I do is just clearing out the chaos.

So when I make a new book I try to jump right in with my daily marks. The process of using the book is what is precious. Take a look at some of my artist sketchbooks.

Do you love your sketchbook?

Do you use your sketchbook to feed your image creation?

Make a Glycerin & Gelatin Printing Plate Now!
Get the FREE recipe to make a gel printing plate

Additionally, you will receive a weekly email about printmaking, ideas, tips and courses.

Join us today and start having fun!

Is your Sketchbook always with you? Read More »