Value change often overlooked

foam plate printmaking / /

Gray scale values can be boring to study if you love color and texture and details.

relief print made with foam plates

But it is probably the most important element of design to understand and use in your art making.

relief print with masking stencils

With mixed media printmaking and lots of colors and layers, it is easy to end up with one middle value and not much contrast.

relief print in process

I always chant to myself:

  • Save some very light whites or
  • Add a dark black to make it pop

Another tool that I use is that I squint at the piece to see if I can see those extreme lights or darks. Or do I see only a middle range of values. Squinting is a quick way to simplify and see the extremes.

soft plate relief print

Try squinting a the pieces above or at some of your work and see what you notice about light to dark value changes.

Oh another fun way to increase you value seeing skills it to squint at masterpieces that you admire. Ask, do these masterpieces have a range of value from very light to very dark?

If you would like to explore printmaking – check out the current online printmaking classes.

Value change often overlooked Read More »

Relief printing class – starting soon

foam plate printmaking / /

I am excited about the soft plate relief printing class that starts soon.

relief prints by linda germain

I have started gathering all my inks, plates, papers and tools to play with printmaking. I often have to remind myself to keep it simple. It is so easy to want to put all that inspires me into one set of prints. But that usually ends up with an ugly mess.

soft plate relief print on paper

Even with the print above, I had to rein myself in and keep it simple by:

  • Limit the colors
  • Repeat the circle motif
  • And slightly modify the circle image to create just enough variety

I took a chance with the gold and I think it works. It adds a bit of variety and darker values.

If you would like to explore this low tech method of printing then check out the details on the printmaking workshop page and join us.

Relief printing class – starting soon Read More »

Think backwards – printmaking skill

monotype print / /

Often the image you are creating in a printing process is backwards than what you might expect.

soft printing plate and relief print

As you can see above the foam printing plate on the left is a reverse image of the actual print on the right. This ability to reverse images takes time to learn and get use to.

Foam relief stamp as printing tool with the gelatin plate

If designs are abstract or symmetrical, sometimes it does not matter if the image get reversed. It is important to reverse words and images that are familiar to you like portraits.

Test print the relief block with water based marker

self-portrait

Relief plate combined with gelatin plate Linda Germain

My style of printmaking is exploratory and experimental. But I do think that I have printed so much that I now know that things get reversed and I compensate for that element of the printing process. Often the reversal is not a big deal for me either.

Collaged Relief Prints by Linda Germain

I like to work freely, without too much restriction or planning. I think that is how I discover new approaches and combinations of techniques. Collage and cropping are good ways to “finish” prints into framable pieces of art.

Another “backwards” way I work is to cut paper to the size of frames that I already have. Or to work on paper that fits into standard size frames. That way it is super easy to pop the print into an affordable frame and admire my work.

soft plate relief prints by linda germain

The next class is Soft Plate Relief Printing. Check out the details on the workshop page. This online class starts soon and includes 6 short actionable lessons spread over a 10 day period.

Think backwards – printmaking skill Read More »

Gather a few tools and just begin

foam plate printmaking / /

One way to get making some art is to just gather a few tools and just begin.

foam plates for relief printing

Less is more in this case. But if you have more tools and supplies than you actually need that is ok – just begin with what you already know.

ink and brayers on the palette

You can even pull out an older print or picture as stimulation.

relief print by linda germain

Then be willing to just play. That means:

  1. Be willing to try new things
  2. Make mistakes
  3. Make ugly art
  4. Be open to surprises
  5. Do something you know and
  6. Then let go of expectations
  7. Oh!!! and let it be fun
  8. Can you embrace the little kid in you?

This is one way to move beyond whatever is stopping you and start making!

TRY it!!

Gather a few tools and just begin Read More »

Photos make your prints more personal

stencils / /

When I use self portraits or photos of my nephews in my art the work always has more meaning to me.

self as stencil

It can be a challenge to get a photo that is good for making a stencil. That is why I take lots of photos. And if I get one or two that will be good for printmaking the that is a success.

shadow into stencil

I miss plenty of fleeting photos because I don’t have my camera ready. But that is really not a problem because my eyes are always seeing shapes, shadows and subjects. And maybe next time I will have my camera ready to capture the image.

sketch from photo to make stencil for printing

I did sketches of the photos. You could do tracings of the photo as well

shadow into a stencil for printmaking

The traditional “hole” stencil on the left, a layered print in the middle and the masking stencil on the right.

If you are interested in using your own photos to make more personal art then:

  1. Carry you camera with you all the time
  2. See shapes and shadows
  3. Take lots of pictures
  4. Be willing to have just 1 or 2 good photos out of many
  5. Print out a silhouette/shape/image
  6. Just jump in and cut a stencil
  7. If it is not perfect or as you imagine, then adjust or try again.

shadows make great stencils

I really liked this shadow.  I had a challenge converting it to a stencil that I liked as much. I had to add some sort of feet and adjust the shoulders.

stretched out shadow stencil

You might be able to see the adjustments I made in the blue and orange print on the left. So sometimes your photo will be a jumping off or starting place for the final product.

If you would like to explore printmaking methods, check out the current workshops.

Photos make your prints more personal Read More »