Discover mark making tools:

You can find a package of wide tooled combs at the dollar store and then you will have fun working into the ink on the gelatin plate. If you play and then you are not happy with the mark then, you can just brayer over it and start over.

Here I criss-crossed the lines, and rolled down a base color of gold. With just one tool it is possible to experiment for a whole day and still come up with new types of mark from the homemade gelatin plate.

Have you made the glycerin and gelatin plate yet? If you would like to explore this monotype printing process, then join us in the next session of Make Monotypes. Right now the early bird discount is available.

Use Die Cuts with Gelatin Plate

I love to repurpose things. I got these Fiskars  die cuts at my favorite recycle store, extras for creative reuse in Lynn, MA. I do not the special Fiskars machine, but I knew that I could figure out a way to use these 4″ letter press die cuts.

I use the gelatin plate to ink the die cut tool and then press the ink back on to the plate and I get the lovely detailed impression above. I like to work small sections of the plate and paper. It allows me to layer, save some white and create a range of value in my prints.

Find some mark making tools to repurpose

Dig through your pile of supplies and see if you have some die cut stamps to repurpose with the gelatin plate to make some monotypes.

If you are kind of new to Monotype printmaking and would like some support, encouragement and guidance, then join us in the next session of Make Monotypes. Right now you can get the early bird discount.

Search the seasonal plastic section of your local dollar store for stamping tools for printmaking. I found this paper plate holder with this circular pattern.

The beauty of printing with the gelatin and glycerin printing plate is the great detail is possible with just hand pressure for printing.

Use the thin layer of ink on the plate to ink the tools. Press the stamping tool into the thin layer of ink, transfer the thin layer to the tool and then print it back on to the plate.

Then place the print paper on top and burnish. All with just hand pressure.

Check out current workshop offerings.

You need to be gentle with metal  tools when you use them with gelatin plate. Metal could easily pierce or cut the gelatin plate.

I like how I can lightly run the sprocket over the inked area of the plate and then print of the sprocket on a clean area of the gelatin plate.

Line element can be:

• bold
• chaos
• meandering
• directive

If you would like to explore making monotypes on the glycerin and gelatin plate join the next session of Make Monotypes, the online printmaking course. Read about the details of the class. Class starts soon.