2010

Do you ever take that gelatin plate print one step too far and then regret it?  I know I do.  But I try to not let this fear of wrecking the piece stop me.

Printmaking without a Press

• gives me freedom to work at home or in a smaller space
• Is usually a faster process that allows for
• quick learning about technique and design

Move through the Fear and Play

• Stop printing if you really love it
• Wait a day to see if you need to add a final pop to the gelatin print
• Maybe add that “pop” by hand or with a more predictable technique
• Make extra prints so you can take risks on the ones that you like but don’t love

Share the Link Love Friday

1. http://www.geninne.com Geninne’s Art Blog, she has wonderful illustrations, stamping tutorials and a new book just out Avian Friends Activity Journal.
2. http://thecardboardcollective.com Be inspired to shade yourself from the sun with this paper bag hat!  Many other patterns and plans for making stuff with cardboard.
3. RAE MISSIGMAN is part of the 21 Secrets Art Journaling course.  I just signed up and I watched her videos and made a recycled coptic stitch book with no tears or frustration.  Her video was very easy to follow.  I watched it once and then made the book parts and then watched it again as I sewed the gelatin print signatures to the old Nancy Drew Book. Here’s a video of my coptic stitch book for the go green project.

4. Well this is not a blog but it is a Kickstarter Project that caught my eye.  So I share it here for you.  The concept and the aesthetic speak to me.  I know that I can take away and benefit from artists who are similar but different than me.  So I share Ubuntu Handline Portfolio and a Kickstarter project.

5. Another mixed printmaker from New England who uses the gelli plate and collage to make delicate and expressive monotype prints Roberta Warshaw.

Happy Printing!

Sometimes when you are playing with your gelatin printing process, things just don’t go as you expected.  But you always have options.

Muddy Gelatin Print

• If the print is too dark 
• One option is to directly roll white ink on to the print
• This covers some but not all of the underlying layers
• It allows some of the original mark to show through

This gelatin print did not have much contrast and had no focal point, so I cover the page with white speedball ink.  Then I used the traditional stencil to print the star and I hand stamped the circle shapes directly on to the paper.

The more ink you have on the paper the less the ink is absorbed.  It just sits on top of the layers.

If you have “saved” an ugly, muddy gelatin print then please share it with the flickr group with a link to your site.  I love to see other people’s successes.

Happy Printing!

 

Why I love gelatin printing?  Because of the details that can be transferred to the paper without having a press.

Print without a Press

• at home
• with simple tools
• non toxic materials
• easy clean up

and you get

• fantastic results
• loads of fun
• plenty of prints to share

Here’s a video about working small and making Artists Trading Cards.  Enjoy!

To see some more videos about gelatin printmaking and printing without a press check out my videos page.