Watch and learn how to make the Gelatin Plate for Printmaking

Haverhill / /

There are lots of different recipes for making the gelatin plate for monotype printing. And you can even skip the process and buy a commercially prepared plate.

Each type of plate will interact differently with inks and paints. So the key is to find your favorite combination of inks, papers and plates to create your style of gelatin plate monotype prints.

gelatin print made with found stencils

If you are new to this site, then you can get my free recipe for making the glycerin and gelatin plate here.

My favorite combination is 90 lb. drawing paper, speedball water based block printing ink and the homemade glycerin and gelatin plate. That combination of tools gives me some control and ability to create my style of marks.

gelatin plate for printmaking

If you are local – come to the free demo:

I realize that making the plate is a barrier for some people to get through, so

  • I am going to include how to make the plate in my
  • demonstration this Saturday,
  • May 20th 1PM to 2PM at
  • the Artists Playground
  • The Tannery, Water St
  • Newburyport, MA
  • The demo is FREE, just reserve your space 978-462-5366

Gelatin printmaking is a spontaneous and unpredictable process that can produce beautiful layered images.

multi colored gelatin monotype print

Watch the video below to get a peek at the tools, the process and some prints.

Watch and learn how to make the Gelatin Plate for Printmaking Read More »

Books as art materials

monotype print / /

I love finding old books at library sales.

books for making art

I think of old books as fodder for art making. I can use:

  • The pages for black out poems
  • The covers for journals
  • Pages for printing surfaces

black out poems on book pages

BE brave and make something from a book!

Use old books to make art journals

I look for covers that talk to me, pages with words that jump out at me and subjects that catch my eye.

artist book made with old book covers

I am excited to share that I am working on a new class that will be all about repurposing old books and less than perfect prints into beautiful pieces of art.

Stay on the mailing list to find out about the details of this course that will run in July.

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Rain, Rain – go away or not

inspiration / /

Here in New England we are experiencing a rainy Mother’s Day. It is disappointing for some. Does it have to be?

see the beauty in a rainy day

But we could just roll with it and embrace the things that we can not change. Could you?

  • Notice how it is turning everything green and lush
  • Jump in puddles with your grandkids
  • Photograph the reflections in the puddles
  • Close your eyes and listen to the rain

Being with the rain creates opportunity to feed your art practice.

patterns inspired by rainy day

I always get ideas for:

  1. Patterns
  2. Shaped stencils and
  3. Layered images

If you would like to give yourself a mother’s day gift and start to let your environment feed your art practice, then join us in the 4 week gelatin printmaking course that starts tomorrow – Make Monotypes. Read the details on the printmaking workshop page.

collage of gelatin prints by linda germain

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Artists are enjoying Make Monotypes printmaking course

monotype print / /

I love my course Make Monotypes because I can help artists from all over the world to explore gelatin printmaking.

Gelatin Plate Monotype Prints on display by Linda Germain

But I am happy to share that my students are loving the class just as much as I am. For example:

One student’s experience in Make Monotypes – I wanted to take this class for quite a while, but as I had already experimented a fair bit with a gel plate, I wasn’t sure how much I’d learn.

My friend, a bookbinding instructor took the class a while back, and spoke very highly of it. She really enjoyed it and learned a lot. And I had seen some of her prints that she incorporated into her bookmaking projects.

I’m very glad I took the course – it was exactly what I wanted- it encouraged me to use my own images and experiment with found objects and stencils/masks I created myself.

So many other books, videos and blog posts focused on use of commercial stencils and other products.  I really appreciate that this course focuses on finding or making one’s own tools!

Gerry McG.

make books with your pile of gelatin prints

This gelatin printmaking course is the foundation of my approach to printmaking without a press. The gelatin plate is unique:

  • The malleable plate is able to hold delicate details.
  • These details can be transferred to paper with mere hand pressure
  • The process is immediate and does not require lots of planning.
  • Gelatin printing is low tech and not-toxic
  • It is the best of printing without a press

Read more details about the printmaking course and join us today. This is the only time that I will be offering the course this year.

 

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Local Printmaking Demonstrations

monotype print / /

I am happy to share with you that I will be giving a couple of local demonstrations of the gelatin printmaking process.

Hand cut masking stencil used with the gelatin plate for printmaking without a press by Linda Germain

I will be at

  • the Artist’s Playground
  • in the Tannery on 50 Water Street, Newburyport
  • on May 20th 1 Pm to 2 PM
  • demonstation gelatin printmaking with ink on paper
  • Reserve your spot call 978-462-5366

And in June I will demonstration Gelatin printing with ink on paper

And a little further out on the calendar I will be teaching a full day Gelatin Printmaking class at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, MA – October 14th. Read the details about this live in person class.

Museum of Printing Haverhill

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