Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, collagraph, drypoint, Ink, printmaking, Prints, visual art
This week, we printed our carborundum collagraphs! Very exciting. Carborundum is a very fine grit, smaller than sand. You mix it with an acrylic medium, to create a grainy gel. Then, you put the grainy gel on your plate how you’d like. The grains will hold ink, so that wherever you put this gel is what will be inked on your plate. An added bonus to this process is that the carborundum is bumpy, and leaves a cool emboss on the paper. It also allows one to get very dense, saturated color. Here is how the two plates that I made looked on their own:
You can see the dense color on the print…this is where I applied carborundum to the plate. I have also included a close up, so that you might be able to see the textured emboss:
Okay, maybe that’s too hard to see. Here are other prints that I made with these plates:
So, I used black ink for these prints, but those black areas could be any color. Of course, now that the plates have been printed with black ink…it’s kind of hard to change that.
I also printed again with the drypoint plates that I made earler. You will likely recognize that from my previous posts where I used these drypoint plates:
another:
Then, I printed the two plates together, with no other layers of ink:
I liked how they turned out…generally. The two previous ones may be a bit “flat”, because of the textured/colorful background. Hmmm…comments? Perhaps they need some carborundum!
Here are two random prints with chine colle:
The first plate of the two began with a ghost print of the second print. (a ghost print is when you reprint a plate, without adding new ink).
I also made more solarplate prints. I was tired of using photographic images…they were a little flat, so I went back to directly marking on acetate to make the “negative” for these plates. Please forgive my color choices…as I mentioned in a previous post, there was a serious shortage of red. I know…that’s no excuse really. I’m not fond of the all green one, but I like the one with purple:
I like those, and so I’ll keep trying to print them, to see how I can improve the layering. Next time, I’m going to try to get the colors to be more transparent.
And…last but not least…I did another color scheme of the Regent theater print. I am going to submit this print with the other one to the local show. Yes, I’m not sure if the ink will totally be dry by tomorrow am! I wonder if I could speed up the drying with…a hairdryer? A tanning bed? Probably not.
What do you think? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? I like how this Regent one turned out…even thought it may look as if it should have been a screenprint!
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, etching, printmaking, Prints, solar plate, Visual Arts
So, I had better luck this time printing with my new solarplates. In the past, I found that my images were really “flat” and boring. I think that layering the prints helps a bit. I went into the studio today, which is atypical, so this is why I have a fresh batch.
I may work on some of them more…I may make more plates Friday…who knows. We’re running low on red ink in the studio, so you may see my next prints with more cooler colors. I’m going to be in my “blue” period, much like Picasso, but because there is no red ink, much unlike Picasso.
(I should have cropped the picture above…)
A bit pale, right?
That one needs help too…
I like that one above…even though it’s not got much going on…
I also like that one…just drawings, no images…
I like this one too. It was the last one I did. I also dropped it on the floor, and had to try to remove the mark of my FOOTPRINT on the edge of it. I know. It was past noon, and I was feeling my low blood-sugar clumsy. I knew at that point that I should just clean up and call it a day.
Any comments? suggestions? Don’t tell me that I need more red, because it isn’t going to happen. 🙂
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, Ink, printmaking, Prints, Visual Arts
So, I’m getting ready to try to submit this print of the Regent Theater to the “Images of Arlington” show coming up. I’ve been experiementing with different papers and inks. The first prints look “blotchy” to me. I’m not sure if that’s my own hang up…or if that would be something that a real printmaker would also dislike. Hmmm. So, I switched inks and tried printing a new paper. Here it is:
I know…why bother? Well, I’m trying to improve my printing techniques, so that I don’t have to get as frustrated as I do. As you may notice, the colors are slightly different from the last printing, as I didn’t mix the colors EXACTLY the same. That might be a challenge for anyone, as the inks were different.
I also printed one with just the final block. Here it is:
Yes, this is on yet another type of paper. I may add watercolors to this one…or I may just leave it alone. I think that this could also look nice on colored paper. Or some chine colle! My new favorite technique…(refer to previous posts).
I’m also going to TRY to make another print of this, but in a different color palette. (did I spell that correctly?) I am slightly concerned that the ink won’t be dry by the time that I need to frame it and submit it. Maybe I can frame a print with wet/tacky ink? No? Bad printmaking etiquette? See! There is so much benefit to being a novice…we don’t know any better!
I went to the Boston Prinmaker’s Bienniale at the Danforth Museum this weekend. SO AMAZING. Seriously…anyone in the metro-Boston area should go. The work was so stunning. So much talent. I wanted to own all of the prints. There was also a student exhibition of prints, which was also phenomenal. Please go see it!
It did “fire me up” to go home and do stuff. However, I am somewhat blue that my stuff is so remedial in comparison to all of the work that I saw. I know…you’ve got to start somewhere…but it would have been so convenient to have been a “prodigy” at something, right? Instead of starting at the bottom, you start at the top! Oh well.
It has been lovely and sunny all day…which puts me in a good mood, even though I’m scowling at my prints. Has anyone else seen the printmaking show at the Danforth? Thoughts?
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, drypoint, Ink, Linoleum, printmaking, Prints, Visual Arts
So, I FINALLY finished carving the linoleum. I printed it! It turned out okay…I think that I’m going to try printing it again, to get the ink to not look as blotchy. This blotchy ink might be because: 1. I printed wet ink onto wet ink 2. of the type of ink that i used 3. I had large expanses of uncarved areas. If anyone out there is an experienced linoleum block printer…PLEASE give me some feedback! Any helpful suggestions for printing would be SO helpful. So here is the print:
Not bad…needs some work. I am also going to try printing it on different paper. I need to get more of that paper, though, so I’ll be heading to Utrecht at some point.
I also did a drypoint as well. I really like drypoint now. I didn’t at first. I’m not sure why I like it again. Perhaps because it is somewhat similar to just drawing. I am looking forward to layering my drypoints. The first print is the drypoint as is:
I know…boring/blech…I added chine colle, and it’s much better:
The blotches on the print are actually shadows from stuff on our windows. Yes, we need our windows washed, but it needs to get above freezing first. This morning, it was 17 degrees. Brrr. I’ll have to come up with a new excuse in the summer why I still can’t wash the windows. Right now, the temperature outside is to blame.
I made four solarplates, to be printed next week. I also made two carborundum collagraphs. This is a kind of sandy grit that you put onto a plate with acrylic medium. When it’s dry, you can ink the plate and the grit will hold ink. So, instead of etching texture into a plate, I’m adding it on the surface. Here are the plates:
I know. Hard to see because of the clear plate. Here is another one made on foamcore:
This should be neat. I’ll print it next week, and hopefully post the images. Unless, of course, they’re horrendous. Actually, I generally would post that anyway!
We did a group crit at one of my printmaking classes. It was the first time that I’ve had actual printmakers look at my work. It was great to hear their comments and feedback. As I’m a complete amateur, I don’t have an overall aesthetic to my work…so it’s kind of chaotic. My printmaking teacher used the word, “exuberant”, instead of chaotic. Perhaps I’ll stick with that for now.
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, drypoint, Linocut, monotype, printmaking, Visual Arts
I’m still working away on my larger linocut. I am enjoying this much more than the first time. I may not feel the same way after I try to PRINT this, but at the moment, I am having a better time. Again, I think that this is because I am using a nicer linoleum than I was before. Or else, it’s because I’m refreshed after a weekend away. Yes…I went up to Maine with a bunch of girlfriends SANS ENFANTS! Ahhh…we had a great time. It felt great and odd not to have a three-year old leaping all over me. Naturally, I came home and expected a hug right away, so that previous desire was short lived. So, here’s the linocut:
I know. It’s hard to tell what’s going on. I hope that will improve when I print it. I also worked on a new drypoint plate. Here it is:
Yes, this is also hard to see. So, this post is mostly about my sloth-like pace in making progress. Things are slow here. I’m plodding along…the basement workspace is also creeping along…The good news is that we have the building materials we were waiting for in the basement. The bad news is…well…that it’s all still in boxes. This is no surprise to me. I’m not complaining. I keep hoping that the basement elves will take care of this soon. Maybe they have some kind of union, and are on strike right now. Or, maybe they’re hibernating.
So, I have to go to a parking hearing on Thursday. I dread this. I received a parking ticket for having my car parked in my driveway. Apparently, it was interfering with snow removal. Really? I didn’t realize that the town was planning on clearing my driveway too. Lucky me! If I lose this argument, there really is no justice in this world. Wish me luck.
I have a hideous print to show. It’s sort of a cartoonish house. So awful. A large part of me wonders WHY I even am going to show this. I somehow feel compelled to reveal the ugly truth of this printmaking process…some stuff is just plain awful. Nothing ventured…nothing gained…perhaps my publishing this image is similar to looking at a train wreck…it’s awful, but you can’t help yourself from staring…
Notice how small this image is…not by accident. It might look better as a postage stamp. Or, as my son says, “more better”. I think that this emphasis is valid, when I consider how I’d like this print to shrink down to nothingness.
I missed a printmaking class last week, as my son was sick. Let’s hope that this doesn’t happen again this week, both for his sake and mine! I have to play the odds, and produce enough prints that one or two, on occasion, may be okay. I also have to recover from the aforementioned house print, or else this is going to be both a slow week, and an uninspiring one! (insert sad trombone sound here…) 🙂
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, drypoint, Linocut, printmaking, Visual Arts
A rainy, grey day here in the Boston area. My son has caught a cold, so I’m trying to avoid having him cough on me excessively.
Last night’s printmaking class was a lot of fun…just five of us trying anything out that comes to mind. Everyone does such different stuff. I wish that I could show the other students’ work as well! You’d see how interesting and diverse our things are.
I had made a drypoint plate, which shows up in several of the works. I also did a lot of chine colle this week. I had some interesting origami paper that I incorporated into lots of these pieces.
I’m also working on a bigger linocut. It’s going much more pleasantly than my previous one, as I’m using a better kind of linoleum. I’ve decided that the classic, “battleship grey” linoleum is a pain. This one is a golden color…cuts more easily…doesn’t crumble as easily, and is generally more pleasant to work with. I’ve also pulled out my woodcarving tools, as my little Speedball set of tools is limited and clunky.
So, here are the prints from last night. I like the greys with the bright pops of color. My favorite is the last one…
All of the pictures are going to be dark, as there is no sunlight today! This one above is the drypoint plate with chine colle. I did this a few times:
And again:
I was experimenting with how I removed, or wiped, the ink from the plate. Some are better than others! See how “inky” that one is?
Then, I took a break from that drypoint plate. I had springtime colors on the brain…in amongst the grey…
Even brighter:
I’m not sure if I’m finished with that one.
A bit of an experiment with scratch foam…kind of like the styrofoam trays that you get from the grocery store. I like the fact that the pieces look like they are part of the sky, but somehow the overall isn’t great. I need to help it somehow…suggestions?
Some layered chine colle…I’m not sure if I’m finished with this one yet either:
I like this one the best, even though the registration was off. I started with a monotype, then I decided to put my drypoint plate on it. Unfortunately, the plates weren’t the same size…but I didn’t care…spoken like a true novice:
What do you think? Helpful comments? Advice from experienced printmakers? I have to say…I look over these prints, and most seem incomplete. So, I’ll see if I can revist them at my next class…
Are you as tired of winter as I am??? I planted some bulbs this year, so I am hoping to see some pops of color in a couple of months! Until then, I have to stick with ink…
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: art, Japan, Linocut, linoleum block, monotype, printmaking, temple, watercolor
Okay, it was 12 degrees this morning. Tonight, it’s supposed to be 6. Seriously. In spite of this cold snap, our lovely igloo that my husband made has melted. Here is what’s left of it:
It was right next to that tree. I took this picture yesterday when my son and I were playing out in the yard. I was frozen, and he was gleefully throwing snow around with a beach shovel. Here’s the winter light in front of our house:
Isn’t it amazing? I love that kind of light.
So, I managed to finish that linoleum block that I was working on! I just tried to hunker down and finish it. I like the prints, more or less, so I think that I may do more…in spite of the fact that I’m still not in love with carving linoleum. I also collaged some interesting Japanese papers into some of the pictures. The solid paper was a success…the patterned paper was a total fail.
Here is just the block print:
Here, I’ve added some red paper:
The red looks much darker in the photo above than it really appears. Detail:
Here it is with the patterned paper…not good:
I like this one, with the ochre paper:
detail:
That turned out pretty well.
I also finished that trace monotype with watercolor. I’m not happy with this. I may try to “help” it in some way. Suggestions?
I kind of like the colors, but the overall effect is blah. It’s kind of flat and boring. Thoughts???
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: art, Linocut, Paint, Visual Arts, Watercolor painting
Not much to show since my last post. I have several things in progress. Nothing remarkable, but it keeps me busy. I’m working on a linocut. I am now realizing that while I love the way block prints look…I find actually carving the block to be tedious. I can only do it for a limited time before I get bored and have to do something else. I think that this is because I’m impatient. I want the image done NOW. Having to wait while I carve it takes patience and perseverance.
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE DO LINOCUTS? If so…do you find the cutting of the block tedious?
(i do)
Maybe I should just put on NPR, and the whole thing will go along more pleasantly…
The next images are of a watercolor and a trace monotype, which I’ll add watercolor to afterwards. I like watercolor. I don’t feel that it’s very easy, but I like blobbing around the transparent colors. I know. If I was doing a more complex picture, perhaps I would find it too hard to enjoy! Perhaps I should try a still life, or something. I’m certainly not doing anything en plein air. My paint would freeze. Yes, the warm weather is long gone…this morning it was a chilly 19 degrees. 19 DEGREES!!!
I’m lukewarm about this trace monotype too. The picture is of the back of the paper. I almost feel like the pencil drawing on the back is more interesting. I’ll see how it goes…I may have needed the ink to be darker. Who knows. You can let me know your thoughts when I finish it…
This is a bit of a random post. Here’s a paper cut that I did ages ago.
Papercutting is kind of interesting. It has tons of possibilities. Once again, I think that the process of cutting the paper is not as much fun as other stuff. It’s much easier than hacking into that lino block, though…I can see getting carpal tunnel from that.
This is school vacation week. We’ll have all the kids home quite a bit. I have a feeling that I’m not going to get much done, other than making meals/cleaning up from meals/putting away toys/tripping over toys/passing out on the couch from sheer exhaustion, etc. I’m going to have to try to do artistic things while managing the household…you know: dust kitty sculptures, junk mail collages, spilled cereal installation art…the usual…
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, chine colle, collagraph, Ink, intaglio, printmaking, solarplate, Stencil, Visual Arts
I made quite a few prints this week! It’s also been a lovely 55 degree day today. I think that we’re all giddy with the warmth and sunshine. It does feel wonderful to look up and feel the warm sun on your face and a fresh breeze…as opposed to biting wind and frigid air that makes your eyeballs ice over.
So…dabbling. Lots of dabbling this week. The prints are all over the map.
This week, I had a class with Debra Olin. She was wonderful! So talented and fun. You can see her work here. She showed us stencil work, and chine colle. Chine colle is sort of like collage, but one typically puts the pieces of paper to be glued onto the print not directly ON the print, but on the plate instead. When the plate is rolled through the press, the glue backed chine colle pieces adhere to the print. Very cool! I didn’t do much of it. Here is one with a collaged piece:
The large square is another piece of inked paper stuck on the larger print. Neat!
Here are some things that I did with stencils:
These were fun to do. I’m definitely going to play around with this stuff some more.
I also tried a collagraph. I wasn’t thrilled with it. I kept trying to rework it to improve it. A collagraph is a plate where things are stuck onto it, and those things are inked and a print/emboss is made from them. Here it is:
It looks like a circus. Hmmm…
In my other printmaking class, I made a couple of solarplates. I was pretty lukewarm about these. Also, you will notice in the brown print that there is a whitish margin. This is caused from the solarplate having a slightly curved edge, which allows light to seep in and make that mark. GRRRRR…shoddy plates. So, next time, I may try making a smaller image, and then cutting the plate edges, to hopefully get rid of this problem. VERY frustrating.
See the whitish margin? Frustrating. I was excited to do solarplates, because of the photographic possibilities. But, I haven’t yet done anything that I’m thrilled with. Perhaps the fact that I’ve only been printing them with one color…
This last print is one that I did at home. You’ll notice the sort of washed out look of it. This is because I hand burnish it, as I don’t have a press. I looks okay. I always seem to encounter some registration problem. I’m still happy with it, though.
So, what do you think? Do you like any of these? Throw them all out? Keep them?
Filed under: Drawing, painting, printmaking | Tags: abstract, art, drawing, image, printmaking, Prints, visual art, watercolor
Yesterday was a fabulously warm day. My son and I took several walks to soak up some sun and work on our vitamin D levels. It felt amazing to be out in the warm air. I was tempted to open all the windows in the house, but then I thought that might be premature.
Everything feels like it’s slow going. Every day, I hope for something I do to be “the thing”. By this I mean, “MY thing”. So far, what I’ve done puts a furrow in my brow. Sigh. Just the reality of where I am, and where I am not in my creative endeavours. I love seeing inspiring works by other people. On the other hand, it often leaves me with a bit of a pit in my stomach…knowing that I couldn’t possibly do what they do. I know. It’s supposed to be that way. I have to do what I do. BUT WHAT IS THAT? I wish that I knew…
Here are some odds and ends from the past week. Any comments?
I know. My search to figure out what to do will be a lifelong one. At the same time, so many people have figured out “what” their art is all about. I’m not there yet. It feels like it’s taking forever to figure out.
slightly wonky 
