gelatin plate tips Archives - Page 3 of 5

61 Gelatin Prints in 61 Days – Done

2010, gelatin plate tips / Linda Germain / July 31, 2013

I did it! What a great community and leader in Tammy Garcia at Daisy Yellow. I did the ICAD challenge and have the gelatin prints on my wall to admire. These are some discoveries I made:

I like working small on a pre-cut size of paper
I like working in a series
I like the new gelatin, glycerin and water plate
It takes time to create, photograph, post and share
Goals and boundaries help me.

I have added a picture below of the materials I used to make my second gelatin, glycerin and water plate. I have not printed on this one yet but the consistency feels good, flexible, soft and spongy but not too fragile. So you could quite easily make this plate for yourself and be gelatin printing for months to come.

For this 5″ x 7″ gelatin, glycerine and water plate I used

1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of glycerine
1 box of gelatin
5″ x 7″ acrylic box frame.

It was a little tricky for me to make in such a small quantity. It got quite foamy. I followed my basic instructions and dissolved the gelatin in the 1/4 cup of cold water then added 1/4 of boiling. Stir with rubber spatula to dissolve and added the 1/2 cup of glycerine. I think it is ok to microwave it for a few seconds to help things dissolve.

It sets up really quickly. So there is little time to skim bubbles like in my first video. I think I will try adding a little more water next time. Or maybe a different pan. The deep acrylic box frame is a great shape and size but I have a hard time getting the plate back in it for storage and a hard time skimming off the foam and bubbles. Maybe I will dissolve the gelatin in the glycerin first and then add boiling water. I think that is what Lindsay , the frugal crafter did.

I would definitely NOT put any gelatin, glycerin and water mixture down the drain. I think it will harden and clog the drain. So clean your tools with paper towels and then lots of very hot water.

I found this everlasting gelatin, glycerin and water recipe over at the FrugalCrafter. I found another recipe that added a bit of sugar to preserve the plate. There is a full discussion of the questions that folks ran into and Lindsay has provided lots of advise. So I would check out her post above if you have any questions.

I do leave this gelatin/glycerin plate out on my work table and it has lasted quite a while. I have melted down another one that I made and reshaped it. It does not seem to be as affected by the weather as the gelatin and water only plate. I am becoming a be fan of this recipe.

Aine Scannell over at the gelatin plate flickr group is looking for ideas on how to make a really big gelatin, glycerin and water plate. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

Enjoy!

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Here’s a method to get the perfect gelatin plate print

gelatin plate tips / Linda Germain / June 30, 2013

Well, this is the method that I use to create a gelatin plate monotype prints that I would like to sell, frame and share. I share this picture above which shows you that I make at least 10 prints to get one or two that I really love. So these are my steps to success –

Find an image that really speaks to you. This one is my sister on her horse Teddy.
Look at the image as a black and white silhouette
Use photo editing tools or your drawing skills to simplify the image, but try keep some of those important details
You will find lots of videos on line to help you create the image
Give yourself a break and allow our first few to be less than “perfect”
Use the pre-ink the stencil method to create an image like the ones above. You have many other options this is just one way.
Use paper and ink that allow you to create with abandon. Be generous to yourself.
Then start making prints
Look at and identify what you like and put that mark into the next print
Let go of the parts/marks that you don’t like
Make at least 10-20 prints

If you follow those steps I am sure you will create some pleasing gelatin plate prints that you are happy with.

For example

I found the photo of my sister
Used photoshop and Silouhette – cameo to cut it out. Borrowed the machine from another sister. Oh dear – I am loving it.
The images I printed go left to right and bottom to top. So you may notice a progress. Notice what marks I liked and kept for the later prints.
I liked the dark horse shape
I added browns and blues to the horse shape
I made the watery area blue
I like the lighter orange
I liked the more mottled or textured background
I liked the horse lower on the horizon line.

The things that I let go of were –

solid black silhouette
very centered image
flat colors

I would summarize this gelatin printmaking method as “print a lot and keep what you like.” I invite you to try it and let me know if you like it.

Happy Printing!

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Why playing will make better gelatin monotype prints?

gelatin plate tips / Linda Germain / February 18, 2013

Post by Linda Germain

Gelatin printing is experimental and unpredicatble by nature of the gelatin plate. Playing allows for happy surprises to occur. I try to embrace these ideas –

if you think it then try it
go with the flow
be present to the materials
let go of expectations
trust in the process
take advantage of the sponginess of the plate
be willing to fail
if you are pleased with a few fabulous print in a day then you are successful
try not to force outcomes
give yourself the gift of play

often the prints that happen during clean up are the best
fearless experimentation can lead to extraordinary results

What do you need to be able to play while printmaking?

For me it’s:

inexpensive paper
time
space
gentle reminders that play has the potential and possibilities
ink that is easy to work with and easy to clean up.

Please share your experiences about play and gelatin printmaking in the comments or on the flickr

group or the gelatin printmaking Facebook page.

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Gelatin Plates for every size project

gelatin plate tips / Linda Germain / January 14, 2013

The picture shows you

tiny round gelatin “plates” that I made in a cupcake pan, (top left),
the 5″ x 7″ gelatin plate that I made in a recycled styrofoam produce tray ( bottom left)
the 10″ by 13″ that a formed in the cookie sheet from the dollar store (middle) this one is quite old and falling apart but I love that and finally
the 16″ x 20″ gelatin printing plate that I made in an old picture frame lined with thick 4 mil. plastic. See the picture below for the “form”

The 10 x 13 is the standard size that I use. It is big enough to use medium size stencils and offers a lot of options as far as design and composition. It fits easily in the refrigerator. It works well will standard 9″ x 12″ paper.

I had some fun inking and hand printing the tiny round pieces.

The produce tray size is good for cards and takes up very little space in the refrigerator. This one is about a month old. It is easy to melt it down in the microwave and reshape it too. Video here

The 16″ x 20″ is an experiment to see how it would be printing on that size and to see if I could even do it. It is cold in the studio so I am just leaving it out. Maybe 55 degrees fahrenheit. Here’s a picture of the picture frame and plastic form.

The frame is an inexpensive metal frame that I had in the studio. You could use whatever you have laying around to create a well. I left the glass in the bottom and I taped strip of mat board around the edge to keep the plastic straight. The next day I just lifted the plastic right out of the frame/form. Video here. Please note that I used heavy duty plastic for the 16 x 20 gelatin slab.

Share a picture of your gelatin plate with the gelatin printmaking flickr group or Facebook page

Happy Printing

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Repeat but Vary – composition in Gelatin Printing

gelatin plate tips / Linda Germain / January 10, 2013

Along with the idea to keep it simple, another compositional guide that I keep in the back of my mind is to repeat a shape and vary it slightly. This is easy to go in gelatin printmaking because you can use the same masking stencil and just position it differently. Or you could make stencils of a similar shape and the vary the size.

So as you are in the flow of gelatin printmaking, notice if or when you could repeat a pattern, shape, texture, mark or design. Then ask your self whether it improved the composition or not.

In this print –

I kept it simple with just layering two colors
I repeated the twig shape and varied the placement.
I think it worked.

This is not something I consciously think about, it is just in the back of mind. If if things are not working out, then I might ask – could it be simpler? could I repeat a patter or shape.

If you would like to pick my brain for everything GELATIN PRINTING then be sure to join me for the first ever Gelatin Printmaking Monothon in Austin, TX on April, 5, 6, and 7. Register early and save.

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