monotype print

Gelatin Printmaking with Kids

monotype print / /

playful gelatin print by linda germainPlay with Printmaking is one of my guides for action.  I am lucky enough to work with kids during the summer and help them to play with printmaking too.  It amazes me how little time is devoted to play and self discovery.  Sometimes the kids are not used to free flowing creation.  they have standards to meet and matrices to complete.

Gelatin Printmaking with Kids

Some tips:

  • Keep the steps simple
  • Maybe just use stamping tools for a while
  • Offer imagery that they can relate to
  • test you inks, papers and supplies before hand to trouble shoot any problems
  • Add in skills that they already use, like drawing, scribbling or direct stamping
  • Set up the space ahead of time
  • Know when to keep quite and let them play.

Today’s ICAD was inspired by my kids from Spain who played with gelatin printing yesterday.  I used:

  • index card
  • speedball inks
  • colored pencils
  • charcoal
  • and a purchased animal stencil

Happy Printing.

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Use the Gelatin Plate to Make Prints

monotype print / /

making gelatin plates for printmaking by linda germainToday I am making up several gelatin plates so that a group of kids can make prints tomorrow.  I am lucky to have a big level space and a refrigerator just for gelatin.  (well mostly for gelatin)  It can be tricky to get the pan level and be patient enough to let the gelatin harden before you put it in the refrigerator to firm up.  If you find those things too frustrating then give the gelli plate  by GelliArts a try.

Make Prints – Make a bunch!

I am also working on some printmaking and mixed media tutorials on what to do with the piles of prints that you make.  We have to share them with others rather than leave them stacked in a pile in our studios.  Don’t ya think?

delicate gelatin print of female profile by linda germainMy ICAD print for today is delicate and simple.

  • Just two stencils and
  • some hand stamping
  • both the detailed impression that I get when gelatin printing

I used

Happy Printing!

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Printing Quickly – Gel plate Prints

monotype print / /

Gelatin print by linda germain with a feather and a stencilSometimes it helps to print quickly when making gel plate prints:

  • it gets your inner critic to quiet down
  • the inks don’t dry as fast
  • you get into the flow of your own creativity

Gel Plate Prints

  • used a feather
  • made the shape print in blue in the left
  • put the detailed impression of the feather on the right
  • pre inked the dancer
  • release the ink on to the gelatin plate
  • printed the dancer on top

Happy Printing

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Hands Raised in Joy – a Monotype Print

monotype print / /

Joyful Celebration a female figure gelatin Print by linda germainLet’s raise up our hand in joyful celebration.  Why not?

Monotype Print

  • is on a book page and then
  • attached to the index card for the ICAD challenge
  • so simple
  • one step
  • inked the gelatin plate
  • laid down the masking stencil
  • placed the book page on top and
  • pulled the monotype print

This very moment I have decided to join the Link Love with the others over at Daisy Yellow.  This is the deal every friday share 5 fab links with my readers.  So here I go

  1. Deek at Relaxshacks is an energy and inspiration to me.  I think he will inspire you even if you are not into the Tiny House Movement.
  2. Susan Gaylord is a treasure.  She makes books, has tutorials and words of wisdom.  She even has a new book out Art Lessons.  It is about art as a full time life
  3. I met Lydia Fiedler in Austin, Tx this spring. She has great humor and enthusiasm  for mixed media art making.  She writes at Understanding Blue.
  4. Be inspired by the watercolor figure painting of Gretchen Kelly
  5. A realist painter who is local to New England, Debbie Shirley amazes me with her skills.  Enjoy some of her work here.

share the link love daisy yellow

I came in a few months late to the Link Love project, but it feels good to share these gems with you.

If you see this bright yellow button you will know they are sharing the love too.

 

Happy Printing!

 

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Easy Printmaking with great results

monotype print / /

father and son silhouette a gelatin print by linda germainI am always amazed with the amount of detail that is possible with gelatin printmaking.  That is why I continue to do it day after day.

Easy Printmaking

For today’s ICAD 4 x 6 gelatin print –

I am so happy that I committed to doing the index card a day challenge.  It has –

  1. got me gelatin printing daily
  2. posting images on line daily
  3. thinking about my process more
  4. learning how to share that process
  5. feeling good about keeping a commitment
  6. connecting with like minded people

WOW – that is a lot of good from one little index card print a day!  It is not too late to give yourself the chance to have these benefits and more.  Just jump in the group and start making something on an index card each day and then share it with the flickr or Facebook groups.

 

Tools for gelatin print of the day by linda germain

I have included a picture of

  • the cameo machine
  • my other gelatin plate prints
  • the stencil and
  • the photo that was my reference for this gelatin plate monotype print

If you are new to my way of easy gelatin printmaking then check out these online resources to get you printing and having fun.

Happy Printing!

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