Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, Equipment and Supplies, Ink, linoleum block, Printing, printmaking
Okay. So, I tried a new ink & technique for printing today. I was hoping that it was going to be fabulous. Unfortunately, it turned out horribly. Big fail…waaah! I like the layered colors, but for the life of me, I could not get the middle part to print as dark as the edges. I have NO idea what I was doing wrong. I would love to blame the press, or the ink, but it was surely my fault. sigh. It’s always frustrating to spend time on something that does not turn out well. I tried to revive it along the way, but no luck. I may email my printmaking teacher to ask her for suggestions. [update: I think that I needed to add “retarder” to my ink. This modifier slows down the rate of drying. So, my ink was drying out before I had a chance to print it. I’ve used that modifier for other inks, but I somehow thought that this ink didn’t need it. I was wrong. SIGH. The inspiration (if that’s what I should call it) for the print came from seeing my recently planted bulbs dug up out of the garden by some critter. The sad bulbs were lying on the soil, pale and bare. I wanted to replant them, but I thought that this would just be futile. So, no springtime flowers for me! DRAMATIC SIGH]
I also have a lino print (one of four copies) in process. I used some oil based ink, which was so much better for printing than the water based. Unfortunately, I have been waiting AGES for it to dry. I could probably keep printing, even though it is still tacky, but I’m worried that I’ll mess it up somehow.
I haven’t gotten much done lately. Holiday stuff…trying to purge excess stuff (primarily toys and clothes)…etc. The basement renovation is progressing. I’m looking forward to having some space to work and leave things in process.
Comments welcome! Or if any of you are into printmaking, please feel free to give me some pointers.
I’m going to go and eat a cookie now…
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slightly wonky 
hope it was one of the 3 dozen TJs sugar cookies you’ve made. Wish I had the talent to give you some pointers instead all I can say is that your top image looks very Asian and ghostly…
Comment by Growing Muses December 26, 2010 @ 10:12 pmyou mean “ghastly” not “ghostly”, right? 😛
Comment by slightlywonky December 26, 2010 @ 10:31 pm