Book Lovers – invited to Book arts Bazaar USM

book arts / /

I am gathering my:

for the Book Arts Bazaar at the University of Southern Maine this Sunday, April 9th, 10 to 3 @ the Wishcamper Center.

supplies for the book arts bazaar

This will be my first time attending this book arts festival. There will be 50 vendors. It is FREE and open to the public. Come and be inspired to make some books.

There will be:

  • Book artists
  • Papermakers
  • Bookbinders
  • Printmakers
  • Educators
  • Writers and
  • all things related to the BOOK.

artist books by linda germain

I have many one of a kind artist books, tools, papers and supplies that I will be offering for sale. It will be exciting to have such a wealth of knowledge together this Sunday.

There is plenty of FREE parking in the Parking Garage, off Bedford St.

Hope to see you there. Be sure to stop by my table and say Hi!

 

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Thermofax screen printing is great for detailed line images

monotype print / /

Thermofax screen printing is a way of screen printing without having to deal with emulsion coating and drying. It is limited in size, but it is great if you work small. The images below are all thermofax screen images.

dragonfly thermofax screen print by linda germain

Basically the Thermofax machine burns the screen for you and creates the image for printing.

Thermo Fax machine for screen printing

You can see how I burn the screen in this short video.

I have use thermofax screen images to:

  • Print fabric
  • Make cards
  • Add layers to mixed media prints

thermofax screen printing kit projects by linda germain

Gelatin print with a thermofax print linda germain

If you would like to give thermofax screen printing a try then you are in luck. I have put together a kit of 8 screens and 4 videos to get you started with thermofax screen printing. The screen images are shown below.

Thermofax starter kit

You get the 8 screens shown above and access to 4 private videos that will:

  • Show you how to cut, tape and stabilize  the screens
  • Print with the screens
  • Choose substrates to print on
  • Get you started

You will also get information on how to set up your workspace and clean and care for  your new screens.

 

SOLD OUT

This Kit is no longer available.

 

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Choice of printing tools – gelatin printmaking

gelatin print tips / /

Now a days you have lots of choices when it comes to gelatin printmaking.

strain old glycerin and gelatin plate

Then what inks or paints should you use?

That depends on the plate that you choose. Every type of plate is made of different ingredients, and therefore holds and releases ink/paint differently.

inks for gelatin printmaking

Common ink/paint choices include:

  • Speedball water soluble block printing ink
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Golden Open acrylic
  • Screen printing ink
  • Fabric paint

My favorite combination of plate and ink is the homemade glycerin, gelatin and water plate with the Speedball water soluble block printing ink.

These two materials work well together because they are both water based. The ink stays alive long enough to be transferred from brayer, to plate, to stencils and tools and, then finally to the paper.

Series of gelatin plate monotype prints

For example, these are a few of the prints that I pulled today. The inks stays transferrable so that I can get these dark silhouettes using a technique, that I refer to as pre-inking the stencil.

This is not possible if the ink/paint dries too quickly. See the basics of the process in the video below.

The best combination of ink and plate will be the artist’s choice depending on the desired result and the use of the printed material.
Happy printing!

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Buy some original ART and save 50%

monotype print / /

I am moving my studio and want to find new homes for some of my original monotype prints. So I am offering a 50% discount coupon in my Etsy shop for the next few days.

Use coupon code MOVING and save 50%

Here is a preview and click through to my shop to see all the prints that are available. Remember they are one of a kind, so shop early for the best selection.  

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What do you do with all your ART?

inspiration / /

Do you keep it? Give it away? Sell it? Toss it? Burn it? 

I did all of the above!

I am in the middle of downsizing from a 2000 square foot industrial style space to a 650 square foot condo unit.

art studio linda germain

I am definitely a process type artist more so than a product focused creator. I enjoy the figuring out how to make different kinds of marks, and how to layer impressions. I might use 20 pieces of paper and get 2 prints that I like or that I think are worthy of framing.

I the 3 years that I was in the the BIG studio I collected:

  • Lots of process type papers
  • Tools with potential
  • Many monoprints, printing plates and stencils
  • Duplicate supplies
  • Boxes of books
  • Found objects that spoke to me
  • Box of rusted things
  • More than 15 work benches

There was enough space to hold on to anything that I thought could feed my art making. I was up 4 flights without an elevator, but I still managed to fill the huge space with art and things to make art.

artist studio linda germain

I was quite determined in my purging.

I let go of:

  1. A truck load of papers, prints, drawings and process
  2. Several tables and workspaces
  3. Tools that I thought I would use and did not

I gave FREE art to my family and friends who made the move possible in just 2 weeks. But I still have lots of art in boxes, bags and files.

art display linda germain

Selling art seems like a completely different job and mindset from the one that it takes to make the art.

I am still thinking about my options, of what to do with my art. I hope that it does not affect my willingness to make with abandon.

I wonder:

  • Do you have a house full of art and art making supplies and tools?
  • Is it supporting your art practice?
  • Have you gone through it lately?
  • Do you find joy in selling your art?
  • Would you ever throw any of your creations away?

Enjoy!

Linda Germain

 

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