Mark up your sketchbook

artist book, book arts, fabric prints / /

I recently made a sketchbook with some monoprinted book cloth.

sketchbook with hand made book cloth

I used a sewn tab binding. It is pretty sturdy. And it is small enough to take to the woods.

sketchbook by linda germain

But first I am going to:

  • scribble with pencil
  • add relief stamp paptterns
  • glue in some flower prints
  • doodle with marker

make marks in sketchbook

You may think what would be left for sketching? And you maybe right. A lot of the pages will be marked up with information.

collage in your sketchbook

But it is my book. And what I have come to understand is that in my books the linear drawing may not be the star. So if the book is filled with words or printed marks, then that is okay.

I offer you this challenge to use your sketchbook in ways that support your art practice and to let go of any limiting ideas of what your sketchbook should be. I think you will experience more joy.

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Printing with little spring flowers

inspiration, monotype print, tools / /

Everything is starting to bloom in New England.

apple blossoms in may

Today I gathered some violets and apple blossoms from the woods.

print with flowers and cut press

Then I plate with printing them with the XCut Xpress craft press.

I had some pleasing results.

monoprinted violets

I tried to keep the buds alive by keeping them in water until I was ready to print.

  • I just positioned the flower on dry print paper.
  • Covered with drawing paper and felt
  • Then ran it through the press

apple blossom buds for printing

It is amazing the delicate details that are captured. Enjoy!

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Printing on Fabric – feel and use

fabric prints, printing inks, tools / /

When choosing to monoprint on fabric you may want to think about:

  • your intended use for the printed fabric
  • how you want it to feel
  • does it need to be washable

play with printing on fabric

I don’t always know what I will use the fabric for, but I often want it to feel soft and be washable. The main factor that affects these qualities is the kind of ink or paint that you print with.

inks for make monoprints on fabric with the gelatin plate

I have tried lots of brands with monoprinting fabric on the gelatin plate. And I think every artist will have their own preference. You can read about my experience with the different inks in this blog post.

The other factor that affects the hand/feel of the material is how thickly you apply the ink. Often with monotype printing on paper, I can print several layers of ink and I try to limit the layers to 1 or 2 when printing on fabric.

If you would like to explore Monoprinting Fabric with the gelatin plate, then check out the details of the upcoming online class and join us.

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Spring time – Good for rusting paper

artist book, mixed media printmaking, rust prints / /

You may call me crazy. But I like to collect rusted bits of debris found on the side of the road.

Rusted papers in art journal

Spring in New England, is a good time to find bits of rusted metal on the side of the road. And things are even pre-flatted. 🙂

collect rusted metal from city streets

I have a rusted cookie sheet and a collection of flat rusted things. Once or twice a year I like to rust up some paper or fabric.

rust paper

It is easy to do, but yields unpredictable results.

  1. Get your rusty things wet
  2. Wet your paper
  3. Stack the rusty stuff on your paper
  4. Get the most contact possible. I like to put some weight on top
  5. You can spritz with vinegar/water mix
  6. Don’t cover. You need air to oxidize the metal.
  7. Wait over night (that is the hard part)

rust printing paper

Then you have some paper wit wonderfully aged patina. I have used it for:

Give it a try!

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Tweak your found stencils – gelatin printmaking

monotype print / /

One of the things that I love about gelatin printmaking is printing with found stencils, like weeds and ferns.

find stencils in cracks in the sidewalk

What I find changes with the season. I look for very flat, flexible, delicate and strong. Weeds are often stronger than cultivated plants. They have to be to survive!

Spring greens are usually tender and weak

Here are my guidelines for collecting grasses, weeds and botanicals for gelatin printmaking:

  1. Flat is very important. Grasses can be trimmed or thinned out to make it flatter. Better negative space. Gently press between books or Plexiglas to flatten.
  2. Strong means they will last at least one day of printing. And they are easier to handle and position on the plate. But if you can only find flimsy spring weeds – give it a try.
  3. Be aware that they can cut into the plate or shed seeds. Usually it is easy to clean up with water and a rag.
  4. Dried leaves are usually too brittle, but thin dried grasses are usually great.
  5. You can preserve strong green botanicals with 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water. How to here.
  6. You can store strong grasses and ferns for many months. I use, phone books, file folders and cookie sheet trays.

Delicate grasses make great stencils

Hopefully, you will now look at some weeds and grasses with a new eye for potential art making materials. I always find new treasures whether I am in the woods or on the city street.

make prints with botanicals

Check out the current workshops and explore gelatin printmaking with found stencils and more.

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