tools

Not all brayers are created equal. There are several different types.

But with any type you still want it:

• To spin easily and evenly
• To spin quietly ( squeaky brayer will drive you nuts)
• Be comfortable to hold in your hand
• To pick up and roll out ink in the desired fashion

You can find:

1. Soft Rubber brayers
2. Hard Rubber Brayers
3. Pop in brayers
4. Foam paint Rollers
5. Craft Brayers that can be carved

For printmaking on the gelatin and glycerin plate you want soft rubber brayers. They pick up the ink evenly and release it on to the plate easier than the other types.

The other types of brayers or paint rollers are less expensive, but they will create frustration while trying to make monotype prints that you love.

The pop-in style do not spin as easily or evenly. The metal handled style can be uncomfortable if you are printing for a long time. Hard Rubber do not pick up and release as easily.

It is also great if you can have several brayers of different sizes. The speedball soft brayers come in sizes 1 1/2″ to 6″ widths.

It is nice to have a small brayer to get into tiny spaces. And a large brayer will give you better coverage with less lines when you are inking up a large area. You will waste less ink if you use the brayer that meets the size of your project.

Try to take care of your brayers.  If you do they will last a very long time. Here are a couple of brayer care suggestions if you are working with water based inks:

1. While you are working try not to let acrylic or other hard products to dry on the brayer.
2. I keep a small container of water near by to drop my brayer in while I am setting up a print
3. Before you clean, roll off most of the unused ink onto scrape paper
4. Clean with tepid water and a few drops very mild soap
5. Be sure to get out all the ink from the cross bar and side pins.
6. If you let ink build up there, then the brayer will not spin as well
7. Gently dry them with clean soft rags
8. Rest them on the metal crossbar rather than the rubber roller

Gather up your brayers and join us in the next printmaking class.

What is a baren and why would you want to use one to make gelatin plate prints?

I baren is a tool that is traditionally used in woodblock printing to apply even pressure to the block and create a crisp even transfer of ink. Gelatin plate is much softer than a carved woodblock, so we will not be putting the full force of our bodies into burnishing.

The reason I sometimes use a baren on the glycerin and gelatin plate is I want to apply a more downward even pressure. I hope with this even downward pressure I can create a more crisp, clear detailed impression.

Have you noticed that when you push on the gelatin plate it depressed and responds to your touch? Of course you have. That is what makes the gel plate so amazing.

Each time you depress the plate you affect the image/impression. The more things move the more fuzzy the print may become.

I have a speedball contemporary style baren, but I have experimented with other objects to see if they could be used in place of a really baren. I have tried:

• flat bottom jars
• flat bottom paint bottles
• old porcelain door knob

Some say a wooden spoon will work. I always found them to be too small.

I made a homemade baren too. You can see from the pictures.

1. Cut a circle of stiff foam core
2. Cover the foam core with 2 sided carpet tape
3. Tightly coil clothesline rope on top of the tape
4. Craft a cover. I used an old tube sock, put the base about 1/2 way through, stretch tight and tie the ends together to create a handle
5. Finally, I added a sticky vinyl to the bottom, so it would slide more smoothly.

MacClain’s has some great info and history about barens.

Join us in the next session of Make Monotypes. You will have lots of time to explore using a baren.

Today, I decided that I was going to have some fun, explore a bit and see if I could find some printmaking inspiration.

With the intention set, I began my day.  Just a few steps outside my studio door and I began to find some “new” printmaking tools.

1. Construction fencing will work great for what I call a “brayer rubbing”
2. The giant leaves are soaking an a glycerin and water bath to preserve them.
3. Chinese or  japanese newspaper from the recycle bin next door.
4. A sketch from the machine shop

My day had barely started and I had already collected more than enough printmaking tools for experimentation.

I printed with Jacquard Textile paints to create some monoprints on cotton fabric. These paints are more fluid than the Versatex screen printing inks that I tried yesterday.

When the printmaking ink/paint is more fluid, then it may not be able to hold the detailed impression. The ink/paint starts to run together and the resulting monoprint can be somewhat fuzzy.

This detail impression is very important to me. It is what makes printing with the glycerin and gelatin plate so amazing. Fine detail similar to an etching is possible with mere hand pressure and the right stencil material.

Check the current workshop list for a class that would interest you.

I am pleased to share that I am into my first week of the Make Monotypes Course – that I have been working on for the last few months. It is very exciting I am working with 50 artists from all over the world.

Ok, enough of that.  Let me share with you a few good deals from the local bargain stores.  I love to use stuff that is free, but sometimes bargain store deals are good too.

1. Cosmetic sponges are great for printing small screens like my business card above.
2. Squeegees are great for thermofax screens.  I have cut a few of these into smaller sizes to works for different size screens.
3. The cookie sheet is perfect for making the gelatin and glycerin plate for making monotypes.
4. About once a year, I can find those little treasure boxes.  I like to use the back side of the box for mixed media.  Just cover the other side with brown paper and attach a hanger.