Tyvek® is great for making stencils. So what is it and where can I get some?

It  is a brand of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers, a synthetic material; the name is a registered trademark of the DuPont company, known for their production of chemicals and textiles. Tyvek® is often used as housewrap, a synthetic material used to protect buildings during construction.

I comes in different weights and structures for different uses. Check out the DuPont site for all that info.

You can find Tyvek®:

1. Construction site dumpster – house wrap. Or if you need a lot check out a hardware store for Tyvek® house wrap.
2. Staples + Office supplies stores sell Tyvek® envelopes. This is an affordable option if you can buy them in small quantities.
3. Staples sells – JAM tyvek paper
4. USPS – Uses Tyvek® envelops for their priority mail service – You could recycle those envelopes.
5. Material Concepts – is an online seller of Tyvek® and sometimes you can get odd lot rolls – their Excess Inventory for a reasonable price.
6. Get creative, tell your friends that you need Tyvek® for your art. Look for things that are made with tyvek that you could repurpose.

Be inspired by Beatrice Coron – a paper cutting artist, who uses a lot of Tyvek®.

If you want to learn more about making stencils from Tyvek® and other materials, then join us in the online class, Hand Printed Cards. Class is starting soon.

Today I am playing and discovering the different kinds of marks that are possible with the gelatin plate, stencils, mark making tools and inks.

A lot happens very quickly when I roll out the ink and lay down stencils. The challenge is to transfer marks before the ink is too dry.

There is ink on the brayer and on the plate that can be used to make marks on the fabric. The skill develops the more I understand where to place what kinds of marks to make pleasing prints.

For example in the print above:

• the white ferns are made with a masking stencil over a layer of ink.
• the blue and yellow ferns are made with the ink left behind/under the masking stencil
• the background marks were made with brayer rubbings

So when playing with printing on fabric, skill develops as awareness grows about the actions that make certain types of impressions. This can be challenging for folks who like to be in control or make predictable and repeatable mark.

The marks above are similar but not the same. The happy surprises are what I love about gelatin printmaking. I also love:

• easy clean up
• low tech tools
• non- toxic inks
• able to print at home
• fun to share with friends!
• lovely details with just hand pressure
• no press needed
• fast and spontaneous

If you are interested in some guided discover and playful printmaking with the gelatin plate and fabric then check out the details of the online printmaking workshop, Monoprinting on Fabric. Class starts soon.