gelatin plate care

Strain the Gelatin through a Tarlatan

gelatin plate care / /

carefully pour the gelatin into a level pan by linda germainHere’s a tip for you if you melt your gelatin plates down and reform them if the get cracked and old.

  • I microwave the cut up pieces a few minutes at a time and check and stir to make sure that the gelatin is completely fluid again.
  • Set your pan on a level surface
  • Cover the container of gelatin with a tarlatan or cheese cloth and pour through the screen
  • You will catch a lot of ink, and miscellaneous gunk.

Here’s my video about melting down the gelatin in the microwave –  enjoy the music and just cut the gelatin up and melt it.  Don’t bother with the blender – it is not necessary.

If you would like to join me in the next session of Make Monotypes – the ecourse then sign up here and be the first to know.

Happy Printing,

Linda

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Space for Gelatin Printmaking – How much do you need?

gelatin plate care / /

 

© 2013 linda germain  This is how I set up my space for gelatin monotype printing.

One of the benefits of taking a workshop at my studio is that I give you lots of space to spread out and create.  Check out the class schedule here.

But is all that space necessary?  Can you make beautiful gelatin prints in a smaller space, with fewer materials?  I think yes!  But I am going to experiment with that idea for a while.  I am going to print at  home with less stuff.
© 2013 linda germain Mixing up 2 cups of gelatin
for printmaking.  See the video here.
So I found a foam meat tray from the trash bin and mixed up 2 cups of gelatin.
 I had to share the counter with the rest of the family.  I let it harden there and then transferred it to the refrigerator.
I found a good hiding place for it under one of the draws.
© 2013 linda germain Leveling the tray of gelatin
with a folded paper shim.

The counter top was not quite level so I shimmed the foam tray with a piece of folded paper.

I was very careful to slowly pour the gelatin in to the tray so that it did not dribble all over the place.  That can be quite a mess to clean up.

© 2013 linda germain  – Sightly frozen gelatin  for printing

I am not sure if you can tell from the photo, but my gelatin plate froze a little.

This can happen when the refrigerator it on a cold temperature, or if the gelatin is too close to the back of the refrigerator.

This freeze was not too deep so the plate is ok to use.  I just chipped off the ice and put some newsprint on top to absorb the moisture.

Sometimes those freeze lines can make interesting print marks.

© 2013 linda germain – small space experiment for
gelatin printmaking

So I have claimed this little table for some gelatin plate printmaking.  I don’t have to clean up or share it with anyone else.  The lighting is pretty good.

I made a 5″ x 7″ framing mat out of an old mat.

What is your workspace like?

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Agar Agar in place of Gelatin for Printimaking?

2010, gelatin plate care, gelatin plate tips / /
© linda germain 2012 agar agar in place of gelatin for printing?

I have had some questions about whether it is possible to use the seaweed based, agar agar instead of  gelatin when making gelatin prints.  Well I tried it this past week end.  I had to guess on the ratio of water to flakes of agar agar.  The plate came out a bit stiff and brittle.  I was able to make some prints.  So I guess it is possible to use the agar agar.  It did not work as well as gelatin for me, but I could have the recipe wrong.  I used 1/2 the bag for 4 cups of water.

I reconstituted the plate and added more water.  I will let you know if it is any less brittle.  I think if you are familiar with cooking agar agar it helps a lot.  There is a great resource that compares the two here.

© linda germain 2012 a “gelatin” print made on the agar agar plate
 Agar is an alternative for those who do not use animal products. Though I do not use it I have had several students who have tried the agar plate. They have had mixed results. Some have chosen to use the commercially available Gelli plate from Gelli Arts.
So there are plenty of printing plate options. It will depend on the artist’s goals and priorities which plate is preferred.
I love the spongey nature of the glycerin and gelatin plate recipe. I like the way it holds and transfers ink.

 

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Moving the Gelatin Plate to the Refrigerator

2010, gelatin plate care, gelatin print tips / /
© linda germain 2012 Let the gelatin harden before moving it to the refrigerator

My niece told me that the first time she made the gelatin plate she tried to put it in the refrigerator right away, just after pouring it into the shallow plan.  ooooh  what a messy spill!   So I share her story so you don’t have a mess of gelatin to clean  up.  I let the gelatin harden on the counter top before I try to move it to the refrigerator.  If you make the plate in a container with higher sides then I imagine that it would be easy to put it into the refrigerator right away.

 

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New Step in Making the Gelatin Plate for Printing

2010, gelatin plate care / /
©2012 linda germain  – trying plastic wrap under the gelatin
for easy removal from the pan
©2012 linda germain – gelatin has been poured into the pan
that was first lined with plastic wrap.  Seems to be working.

I am always searching the internet to see what other printmakers are doing with gelatin.  I found a fun book by Susan Schwake, ART LAB for Kids and she lines the pan with plastic wrap for easy removal.  I am giving it a try.  The size of the pan and the wrap are a factor.  The wrap needs to be bigger than the pan so that is hangs over the edge and holds the gelatin.  I can’t wait to try  and take it out of the pan.  It is in the refrigerator hardening up.  I have to wait a couple of hours.

 

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