foam plate printmaking Archives - Page 2 of 7

Masking stencil combined with soft foam plates

I think a combination of different quality of marks often creates a more interesting print.

Foam plate relief printing often creates solid white line kind of mark. You can create variety in the line quality by drawing the plates with different kinds of tools.

In the print above I used a pen, pen cap and found weeds to make the foam plates on the left. But to create the bolder marks on the right I combined a solid plate with “masking stencils.” I used plant material for the lower right image and cut paper stencils to create the shapes on the upper right side.

Masking stencils like those shown above are not usually used in relief printing. But if they are super flat they can be combined with a plain unmarked foam plate with pleasing results.

I thought of this combination of materials, because as a gelatin printmaker I have stacks and stacks of masking stencils.

So as you work on creating your mixed media prints be open to combining processes and materials in new and unconventional ways.

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Relief Print with Soft Plates

foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / August 18, 2021

Relief printing with soft foam plates makes printmaking accessible to most everyone.

You can easily make a stack of plates with a wide range of marks and then start printing and layering to create unique prints.

You can combine several plates to make larger prints.

I have even printed on fabric swatches and combined the prints to make a quilt.

I love finding new ways to make interesting marks in the foam. I am always hunting for tools.

It is fun to make these sampler blocks of different textures and patterns. You can learn a lot about what works to make strong impressions in the foam.

Today, I even played with making tiny little stamps that I could ink with a stamp pad and print in my mark making journal.

If you would like to make a pile of printing plates and explore foam plate relief printing, then read all the details about the online workshop and join us.

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Circle back to the woods

fabric prints, foam plate printmaking, inspiration, mark making tools / Linda Germain / August 12, 2021

I stopped walking in the woods for the last few weeks, because I found a tick attached to my neck and I had stayed on the trail.

But today, I went back to my old trail in the woods by the lake and was so supported by the energy of the place. I had let that little bug, fear and frustration stop me from going on my “healing” walks.

I shared the trail with a big dear and a quiet blue heron and plenty of shadows.

I bring that good energy back to the studio and get more done.

I always find tools and inspiration in the woods. Different seasons offer different tools. Currently I am looking for strong twigs and weeds to use in the soft plate relief class, starting soon.

This is a low tech way to make relief style plates without needing to carve your design. You can use the process to print on paper or fabric.

Check out the details on the printmaking workshop page. And start collecting tools and inspiration!

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Print patterns on fabric with foam plates

foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / May 11, 2020

I was inspired by the geometric patterns of African mud cloth in this pillow project.

I made a few small 2″ x 4″ soft foam plates and played with creating pleasing patterns. I printed on linens and napkins from the thrift store.

I found that I liked the simple designs best and to leave a little space between impression gave the eye a place to rest. These foam printing plates are made from recycled styrofoam produce trays.

I heat set the printed fabric with an iron. I use the hottest possible temperature and use a thin cloth in between the iron and printed fabric. The longer you can wait to wash the more permanent it becomes as well.

If you would like to make a bunch of foam plates and play with printing on paper or fabric, then join us in Soft Plate Relief Printing, the online class starting soon. Get all the details on the printmaking workshop page.

I was ambitious and made this ocean inspired quilt from a stack of relief printed swatches. FUN!

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Line drawings and Relief prints

foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / May 6, 2020

The soft plate relief printing class available now. This low tech method is an easy way to make printing plate from bold line drawing.

The idea is to make recessed lines in the plates. Ink sits on the high spots of the surface and the lines print in white.

You can use a variety of tools to make the lines in the soft foam plate:

pens and pencils
nails
embossing tools and
sturdy found objects like twigs

Different tools will create marks with different characteristic. Finding new mark making tools is part of the fun of this method of printmaking without a press.

You can combine these small plate into prints of varying sizes. I like to make plates that can fit together like a puzzle.

If you are interested in learning to make and print with these foam plates, then join us in the online class, Soft Plate Relief Printing.

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