stencils

Spring greens can be fragile stencils

stencils / /

leaves as stencils for monotype printingI love capturing the texture of leaves, twigs and grasses.

Sometimes the first leaves of spring are too weak to make good printing tools. They are too young to hold their shape.

If you put them in water and work really fast, then you might be able to get a few good impressions. There are no hard and fast rules. So it is always worth a try if you are inspired by something to use in your artwork.

Maybe they could be preserved with the water and glycerin bath as described in this post.

If you want to explore  monotype printing with a supportive group of people, then mark you calendar for  and sign up for the next online printmaking class.

Detail here on the printmaking workshops page.

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Stencils – simple printmaking without a press

stencils / /

Stencils are simple and effective ways to print without having a press.stencils are great for printmaking without a press

These are not your grade school stencils – or maybe they are. Stencils are more than those store bought plastic flowers, set of sign letters and wall stencils for folk art.

They are usually used to block the transfer of ink, but in gelatin printmaking and alternative screen printing processes they can be used to transfer ink as well.

A stencil is a versatile as your imagination. They can be as simple as torn newsprint or as complex as delicately cut mylar.

The power of stencil prints comes when you add your story, your voice, your images to create stencils.  Stencil creation builds up your design skills. You start thinking about shape, negative space and composition.

Consider looking for ways to make your stencils personal.  Use a photo or drawing of your cat, your tree or your child in your next printmaking project. I guarantee you will experience a huge emotional change in your artwork. Your work will reflect what is important to you. That emotion and passion will be felt by those viewing your art work.

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Mend a stencil for gelatin printing

stencils / /
Tape to mend a masking stencil for gelatin printing
Tiny bits of tape to mend a stencil for gelatin printmaking

Sometimes a masking stencil gets moist and weak and breaks while you are pulling gelatin prints. Can you see the kitty cat has a broken broomstick? And the flower petal is separated from the center.

If you are like me, then you love to print and making stencils is work.  So if one tears I fix it.

  • Get some strong tape
  • Self healing mat
  • Sharp exacto knife
  • Broken stencil

Now this is not a perfect fix, because your tape may show up in the detail impression. You may have to decide for your self if you like this tape method.

  • Line up the broken parts and
  • Put a small piece of tape on both sides
  • Use a sharp knife to cut off any excess tape

Now you are ready to print.  If the tape affects your detail impression too much then you may have to cut a new stencil.  Or maybe try glue to mend the stencil?

If you would like to explore using stencils and printing on fabric with the homemade glycerin and gelatin plate, then join us in the upcoming Monoprinting on Fabric, online printmaking course.

Enjoy a slide show of some monoprints on fabric.

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Preserving leaves with glycerin for monoprinting

stencils / /
Leaves and ferns for monoprinting on fabric with the gel plate
Natural Materials for monoprinting on fabric with the glycerin and gelatin plate

Autumn is coming to a close in New England. Last week I gathered as many leaves that I could find.

The were still on the tree, so fresh. I imagine that their little veins were still open and ready to drink up the glycerin and water bath that I was going to put them into.

I tried to collect at least 3 different sizes of the same leaf. I did this so when I print with them, I will have repetition and variety.

I left the leaves in the 2 parts water and 1 part glycerin bath for 4 to 7 days.

Then I stacked them in between the pages of an old phone book. Hopefully the phone book will absorb the excess glycerin.

 

I have been wondering where I could get leaves, ferns or grasses during the winter months.

  • One place would be a greenhouse
  • Maybe the produce section of the grocery store
  • How about a florist
  • Or flower mart

Would you like to explore monoprinting on fabric with natural materials, hand cut stencils, found objects and much more? Check out the self-study, online printmaking class.

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What can you do with 25 pennies?

stencils / /
Sink leaves in water and glycerin mix for 2 to 3 days to preserve.
Submerge leaves in a water and glycerin bath for several days to preserve.

I know you have jars, cups and containers of those pretty pennies.

I do!

We can’t buy much with 25 pennies these days. So let’s put those pennies to work.

A couple of my students shared with me that they preserve leaves with a glycerin bath.

So I googled the process and found that you mix 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water and to submerge the leaves for several days.

This is where the pennies come in. I used the pennies to weight down the leaves and ferns.

It takes some planning and patience. But I am encouraged by the results.

I preserved a fern this way and used it to print with screen printing inks on cotton fabric, with the glycerin and gelatin plate.

I think these steps will help the process:

  • Choose natural materials that are still a little green (not dried up)
  • Smash the end of the stem to open it up and aid in the absorption
  • Be patient
  • Blot them to remove the glycerin bath
  • Store them flat
  • Use a shallow flat plastic container and cover with a sealed lid to save the bath for another day

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