Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Local artists and Nunan’s Florist events

monotype print / Linda Germain / January 23, 2018

We are bringing a little beauty into the darker days of Winter. Two events at local florist, Nunan’s Greenhouse.

2018 Paint In ART exhibit

Nunan’s Florist and Greenhouse
269 Central St, Georgetown
12 to 3 PM
Check out local artist work inspired by the greenhouse.

I will be there with prints and cards made with and inspired by ferns, flowers and weeds. You can even sign up for my new workshop Botanical Cards.

Printing cards with botanicals – workshop

Nunan’s Greenhouse
March 11, 2018 1PM to 3PM
Make hand printed cards with botanicals
All supplies will be provided
MORE INFO on the workshop
Join us today!
Class fee $40.00 – Click here to register – space is limited.

Printing with Ferns from Linda Germain on Vimeo.

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Having fun with books

book arts / Linda Germain / January 22, 2018

I love using books as art materials.

You can usually find them free or quite inexpensive
They have a rich patina and history
Paper, text and texture!

I know some folks are horrified by the idea of ripping up a book. The books that I use are destined for the recycling bin. I go to library book sales at the tail end of the sale and usually get a bag of old books for a few dollars.

I am happy and the library is happy too. Win, win!

A few of the types of books that I like to use are:

dictionaries
Little Golden Books for children
A music book
a foreign language book
a couple of paperback books
any old and yellowed paged books

Today I printed some photos that I took of a scrunched and rolled paperback book. I think that I gave this dictionary new life, that is living on my studio wall.

If you would like to explore using books as art materials, then check out the details on the workshop page. Start collecting old books and you will be ready for class, when it starts.

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Greenhouse a winter sanctuary

Gelatin plate print / Linda Germain / January 15, 2018

Yesterday I joined several other members of the Haverhill Art Association at Nunan’s Florist and greenhouse for a botanical inspired day of printing.

Each Sunday in January the artists gather in the greenhouse and paint, draw, print and make clay work. The series culminates with a final exhibit and opening to the public on Sunday, January 28th from 12 to 3.

I started by walking around looking for shapes and textures. Then I took some photos.

I decided to hunt for a few leaves or ferns on the floor and to make some single color cards.

I had a wonderful, warm, winter afternoon in the greenhouse pulling gelatin prints.

I was lucky to find a few fairly flat ferns and leaves and produce some lovely detailed impression with the gelatin plate.

Towards the end of the day I cut a tavel stencil based on a sketch that I did of some leaves and pulled a couple of two color prints on old book pages.

Check out upcoming workshops.

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Where to buy glycerin for gelatin printmaking

gelatin plate care / Linda Germain / January 3, 2018

If you want to make the gelatin and glycerin plate for monotype printmaking, then you will need to find about 12 oz of glycerin.

It was always a little bit of a challenge to find it, but recently it has become a little harder to find.

Here in the US you can find it:

Big Walmart stores in the first aid section near the calamine lotion. (Some of the smaller stores have stopped carrying it)
CVS, Walgreen and like pharmacies may have glycerin. I find these stores to be more expensive
Hobby Lobby, Joan’s Fabric and A. C. Moore and similar craft stores sometimes have glycerin in the baking/wedding section

Of course you can find 100% glycerin online and there you may find the cheapest prices. You do not need a lot unless you plan to make a lot of printing plates.

So give yourself a little extra time to find glycerin. Often the sales clerks will not know if they have it or were to find it. You may need a little persistence.

I think the effort of making the glycerin and gelatin plate is worth it. I find that I like the way the homemade plate holds and transfers ink to make delicate textured impressions.

If you are interested in exploring gelatin printmaking using ink, paper and the homemade plate then join us for Make Monotypes, the online printmaking class.

Next Class starts Jan 7th, 2019.

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