Look Back with Curiosity

inspiration / /

I take a lot of photos. I use my phone and download them to my computer. I use Lightroom to index them.rye on the rocks fall

Captured these red berries and the family beach cottage as the season was coming to a close.

There can be 5,000 to 7,000 photos a year. Most of them are of my printmaking and the process and its inspiration.trail ride with family

Smiles came to my face when I remembered the trail ride we took about a year ago.

So to scan through last year’s images is kind of like a visual diary. It is fun and informative and I encourage you to give it a try.

Halloween shopping with Mario and Luigi

Happy Halloween shopping with Mario and Luigi.

MORE of when I looked back over this year:

drum leaf books by linda germain

I made a lot of drum leaf bound books last year.

gelatin print with hand stamped marks

I explored mountainous layers and hand stamping with wood type.

clay creations by linda germain

I got addicted to playing with clay!

inspired by the beach

I went to the beach in the late fall for fresh sea air, maybe I could do that now.

early December snow

We had some early December snow. Capturing Shadows.

I played with hand written fonts.

I played with hand written fonts.

I hope the look back lifts you up.

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Museum of Printing – yard sale

tools / /

I am so lucky to have the Museum of Printing in my hometown.

Museum of Printing Haverhill MA

A few times a year they have sales on type, books and equipment. Today they had a yard sale. I usually pick up a few odds and ends.

cuts for printing

You may know that I do most of my printing without a press. I carefully picked out the 2 cuts in the image above.

I cleaned the little “stamps” and inked them with speedball water based block printing ink. I was able to hand print a stack of small cards.

Hand printed cards by Linda Germain

I love the tiny tree, barn and flower image. It is so amazing how much info is created in the 1.5″ x 1″ cut. I was drawn to the simple tree shape but I did not really care for the uniform roots. So I masked out the bottom of the plate with a small piece of paper.

I think I am just in a card making mode. Below are some hand printed cards that I made with Tyvek® stencils on the gelatin Plate.

print cards with the gelatin plate

You still have time to join the online workshop, Hand Printed Cards. Read the details and join us.

 

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3 ways to “save” a gelatin print

gelatin print tips / /

I  make lots of less than perfect prints. I just know that is part of my process.

1 – One way that I revive a print is to scribble to create texture and support the focus.

gelatin plate print by linda germain
with hand drawn lines

The colored pencil scribbles in the print above create a sense of playful motion. This kind of fix mimics the playful way I like to print.

2 – I use a cropping window to create a compelling composition.

thumbnail image print

In the piece above I used a 2″ square window to hover over a pile of practice prints. I cut out a stack of squares and them combined them to create this thumbnail print. This process is great for building composition skills.

3 – Print a very dark layer as the final impression.

gelatin print with sewing

In the print above, again I had a random practice print of circles. It was just so so. I picked the figure and a couple of circle stencils to create a pleasing composition. Then I laid down a very dark blue, black layer and made this image. A final dark layer is often an easy way to fix an otherwise boring print.

Join me in an online printmaking workshop. READ the details about current offerings.

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Printmaking and Papers

gelatin print tips / /

Paper is important to printmakers. It holds our impressions.

tissue paper prints

I like to use paper that allows me to print with abandon. If the paper is too precious, then I get afraid to make “mistakes.” And mistakes are where the magic happens.

abstract landscapes Linda Germain

 

So my go to paper for gelatin printmaking is 90 lb. sulphite drawing paper. I now buy the ream of 12″ x 18″. Then I can cut the paper into specific sizes for printing and bookmaking.

drum leaf binding artist book

Another inexpensive paper that I have used it Staples Cover Stock. It is absorbent and sturdy.

FREE paper is another favorite. I like to white wash old book pages with acrylic paint or printing ink, then I start with a textural surface that creates a layer of interest.

delicate gelatin print on book page

When gelatin printing, it is often important that the paper is absorbent and picks up the ink easily.

gelatin prints on maps

I have printed on:

  • old maps
  • tissue paper
  • children board books

I encourage you to consider that papers you print on. And see if the paper supports your artistic vision. Also try printing on some new and different papers that allow you to playfully approach printmaking.

make cards with Tyvek stencils

Check out the online printmaking classes available now.

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