relief prints

Soft plate relief Printmaking class on sale

foam plate printmaking, relief prints / /

This month you can save 25%  on the Soft Plate Relief Printmaking class. This is a 6 lesson self study with 24 short videos.

foam relief prints

We use foam plates to create a series of printing plates that can be layered to make interesting prints.

foam plates for relief printing

These prints are made with water based block printing inks and hand pressure.

soft foam relief printing plates

We even explore tips for printing on fabric.

foam plate printing on fabric

Read all the details on the workshop page and be sure to enter the coupon code to save 25%.

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Go back to your sketchbook

artist book, inspiration, relief prints / /

I have been using a sketchbook a lot more in the past year. It is quite satisfying to fill one up.

sketch booking by the lake

Sometimes I get too focused on finishing up a sketchbook. They end up on a shelf or in a box.Pamphlet stitched books

Then I remembered that they can be used as source material for more drawings and prints. So this may be obvious to you, but it is a new idea for me, to use the original sketches as reference to make more drawings.

sketchbook

So get out some of those old sketchbooks and draw! Some of these doodles and drawings make even inspire printing plates or stencils. Keep it fun!

foam plates for relief printing

If you are interested in relief printing with foam plates, then check out the details on the workshop page and join us in the Soft Plate Relief Printing class. This online class starts soon.

 

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Use your paper scraps

collage, inspiration, relief prints / /

I trim a lot of paper and usually have a lot of scraps of the same size.

I use these paper trimmings to make:

  • small books
  • cards
  • to do list papers

use paper trimmings for small art works

My everyday print paper is Pacon heavyweight drawing paper, 90lb. I like to buy the ream 12″ x 18″.  Then I can cut some common sizes that are easy to frame.

Most recently I have been making a daily collage with odd scraps in the recycle bin. I pull out 5 pieces of paper and give myself 15 minutes to make a collage.

quick collage Linda germain

15 minute scraps collage

One time I used the trimmed paper from a book project to make a long skinny book for foam relief prints. So don’t throw those paper trimmings away.

drum leaf book of relief prints

I use a lot of little “To Do” lists. So I added some stamped marks to the bottom of some waste paper and made my lists a little more fun!

relief print to do list

So what do you think you could do with your paper scraps and trimmings? I hope I have stimulated your thoughts and you make some fun stuff!

 

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Plates as Puzzle pieces

relief prints / /

Working and printing at home or in a small studio is easy when using soft foam plates. I can pile prints in small spaces and spread tools out on a couple of tables.

foam plate prints

I love using recycled produce containers and small consistent sizes to make plates that can fit together some what like a puzzle.

piece many small relief plates

Soft foam plates create muted and changeable impression. They can be layered an overlapped to introduce variety into the piece.

combine plates to make larger prints

If you are looking for a low tech way to print on paper or fabric and create one of a kind impressions, then foam plate printing may be a good option for you.

draw lines in the foam plates

The basic technique is to make recessed lines in the foam and then ink and print the high parts of the plate. Simple pens and pencils can be used to make the marks. But you can get creative with found objects and masking stencils to expand the mark making vocabulary.

relief printed fabric

Join us in the upcoming class, Soft Plate Relief Printing, read all the details on the workshop page.

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Reverse engineer a relief print

relief prints / /

Do you look at art and wonder how it was made?

I do.

Foam plate monoprint on paper - Linda Germain

It is easier to try to figure out the creation steps when I am familiar with the technique. So I can do it for printmaking processes much easier than say painting or sculpture.

It is fun to wonder about prints and pieces that truly inspire me to new action.

Foam Relief prints - hand printed

But with some types of mixed media printmaking there is an element of chance or serendipity.

Many types of printmaking involve planning layers in reverse and tight registration with crisp clean results. That is not my style.

I like to try it and see what happens. There is an element of trial and error. I often work on several prints at once, so I have a place for all the different kinds of marks.

relief print by linda germain

I generally go from caution to chaos and around to completion eventually. With this type of experimental approach it is nearly impossible to reverse engineer a print. Often marks are one of a kind and part of an earlier impression.

For example:

Multi color Foam relief print Linda Germain

This soft plate relief print has these steps:

  • print the orange plate
  • Print the yellow square plate
  • Add the plain blue rectangle
  • and the 2 steps that make the print
  • over print the yellow with a bit of orange
  • over print the blue with a masking stencil and white ink

The confusing thing about printmaking can be that it is an indirect method of art making and you often do not get to your end product with a direct line.

So if you can:

  • take what you know
  • be open to serendipity
  • learn from mistakes

then you will be a happy mixed media printmaker.

If you would like to explore soft plate relief printing, then join us in the next session.

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