Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Loving Akua Intaglio ink for Trace Monoprinting

trace monoprint / Linda Germain / July 1, 2019

Trace monoprinting is a simple printing process. And having a high quality, slow drying ink like Akua Intaglio makes it even easier.

I am getting ready for the online class, SEE – draw – Print and making prints and discovering new things in the process.

I am most pleased with how the Akua Intaglio ink stays active and workable for a very long time. The Akua ink is designed to stay open and workable until it is absorbed into the paper.

So I can leave it on my palette over night and come back the next day and work it a bit with my palette knife and brayer and start pulling prints right away.

It is a soy based formula and does not have the toxic properties of traditional oil based inks.

In the past I have used the speedball water based block printing inks with a retarder to make trace monoprints. That ink dries pretty quickly, so I needed to work fast and spontaneously.

A good way to try out the Akua inks it to get a starter kit. You get some Intaglio ink, and liquid pigment and transparent base and one modifier. I would suggest getting a jar of Mag Mix too.

I use the Mag Mix to stiffen the ink and make for a cleaner line when making trace monotype prints.

If you are new to printmaking and have never used professional quality inks, please enjoy this video and others by Susan Rostow, the creator of Akua inks.

If you would like to explore printmaking without a press, get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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Do some Picasso inspired “one-liners”

monotype print / Linda Germain / June 28, 2019

I love line drawings that are simple and still express authenticity. And that can be a challenge to let the line flow and not be labored.

trace monoprint by linda germain — Line drawing trace monoprint

To get some inspiration for the beauty of simple line drawings check out the one liners by Picasso.

I also love the Plant drawings by Elsworth Kelly.

If you are inspired by the simplicity of the one line drawing, then give your self a challenge.

You could:

Pick a line drawings by Picasso or another master and do studies
As a learning to see tool – you could copy it and trace it
Then draw it while staring at it
Notice if you are loose or tense
Remember to breathe

After doing a bunch of studies you could pick one flower or animal and do your own drawing in just one line.

It may take several steps to simplify the image to one line and still express the essence. As Picasso did with he bull studies.

Here is a quote that is attributed to Picasso that support the beauty of the one liner:

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary .”

My drawing is more than one line, but I do feel the essence of those tangled wires.

I like to use this simplified line drawing approach when I am preparing images to make trace monoprints.

The line drawing becomes the matrix for the fuzzy lined trace monoprint. And that fuzzy line quality gives the image a whole new feel.

I made a copy of this figure drawing and then used that to make the trace monoprint below.

If you are intrigued by simplified drawings and want to explore the trace monoprint process, then check out the details on the Draw into Print Workshop page and join us, class starts soon.

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All about the brayer

tools / Linda Germain / June 25, 2019

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.

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Studio Space to support you

inspiration / Linda Germain / June 12, 2019

Whether you have a big space or a tiny table I think we can arrange tools, supplies and artwork to encourage creative creation.

I have moved my studio 3 times in the last 5 years, from a shared space to a huge factory loft, to a small apartment and back to the shared space.

Each space has advantages and disadvantages. I am happy to be back in a shared space – nice to have other people around.

They all needed:

Accessible storage for supplies
Computer and printer space
Active design and display ares
Storage for tools not in use

It is a big benefit to have a “slop” sink and floors that are not precious.

The things that I have found most useful for organizing:

Plastic boxes that can be stacked and made into table with an old door on top
Cardboard boxes that are labeled and that fit on my shelves
Filing folders are great for small prints
Plastic salad containers – stack and nest supplies
Jars and cups for pens and brushes and stuff
Suitcases with wheels for fabric, frames and more
Tacks and binder clips for displaying prints in progress
Bed boosters to make workbench a better height
Lots of shelves
Cube shelves for easy access to papers
Big sheets of foam core to make a temporary table
Ironing board – an adjustable table
Clothes lines for prints and fabric
Big standing bags for storage that is accessible – rags, threads
Comfortable chair or couch for breaks
Hooks, nails for rulers, tools and brushes

I would call my space controlled chaos. I go from comfortable working space to overwhelming mess and back to comfort. It helps to let go of tools and papers and prints that I don’t use or love.

I have come to realize that there will always be more and by letting go, I am making open space for something new.

Be inspired by other’s studios on my Pinterest board.

Enjoy!

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Stencils are easy and versatile

stencils / Linda Germain / June 1, 2019

As far as printmaking methods go, stencils are probably the easiest to create and use.

1 – Stencils are easy to cut or tear

A stencil could be as easy a torn newsprint to block the transfer of ink on the gelatin plate. Or they could be intricate cut Tyvek.

2 – Stencils can be used alone or combined with other printmaking methods like screen printing or gelatin printmaking

series of christmas cards - screen print in progress — screen print in prosess

3 – You can use stencils with or without a press

Most of us are not lucky enough to have access to a printing press, so stencil printing is great for the artist with a home studio.

4 – Stencils can be based on skills you already have like photography and drawing

Masking stencils inspired by cast shadows - linda germain — Left masking stencil and right inspiration for future stencils

If you want to explore making stencils, then join us get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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