tools

We are makers! We have the desire to make stuff and often the making is more important than the end product. I have made and then tossed plenty of prints, collages, drawings and books.

I make tools so that:

• don’t have to buy anything
• my marks will be unique
• for the fun of experimental creation

I make my own gelatin plate because I like how it allows me to print delicate detailed impressions. You can get the recipe here.

Recently, I have been making my own foam stamps because they permit fast easy printing in my sketchbook. I get to choose the subject matter such as birds, trees, and geometric shapes. If you would like to make a pile of your own stamps – check out the details of the online class, Stamp Making + Mixed Media Book Workshop.

In Make Marks and Books we find and make several kinds of mark making tools:

• find texture making “tools” to use with the gelatin plate
• craft cardboard relief plates
• make wooden block stamps
• find “stencil” tools for supported line drawing
• collect raised objects, like cut glass for rubbings

Test and print with all these tools to make a cohesive artist’s book. Save $25 on the Make Marks + Books class for February – now $60. was $85.

Do you like to make your own tools?  Are you willing to use what you have to experiment with new marks?

I hope so! Play with making some new marks today.

The tag line I have at the end of my emails is “Use What You Have.” I like to think that we can do this in many areas of life including art making.

I think that it implies that the answers, skills and ideas may be with in each of us.

I love buying art supplies. And yet I really have more than I need. So I gently remind myself to use what I have.

When I am working on a project that calls for paint, ink, glue or paper that I don’t have, I often test the process with something that I do have. That way I can:

• Get started right away
• Save money and a trip to the store
• See if I even like the process

Sometimes the “right” supplies do make a big difference. Some supply combinations that are important to me are:

• Speedball water based block printing ink and the homemade gelatin plate – I like how they stay alive and how I can get the delicate marks that I like
• Akua intaglio ink and the Pacon 90 lb sulphite drawing paper. I like how the ink stay wet and workable and is absorbed by the paper.
• Lineco – PVA glue and any paper for making glued books. When I am patient enough to let things dry this glue is strong, flat and flexible.

Maybe you have supply combinations that work best for you. I think you should celebrate that. Those select tools could be one of the qualities that makes your work uniquely yours.

I invite you to test out your supplies and join me in the Bound Prints Workshop. Transform a pile of papers/prints into lovely journals and books. Read all the details on the workshop page.