Recent Monoprints on Fabric

I used a foam padding with plastic on top as the printing plate, spread my paints, pressed some texture plates, added dried leaves and laid the fabric on top.

Usually I use my wonderful gelli plate but wanted to try out a Pinterest idea and voila these gems, if I say so myself!   Now all I have to do is design something!

Gelli Plate Class

I'm in the middle of taking an online class with Carla Sonheim.  It's wonderful!  I'm learning a lot.  She is presenting a whole new way of using the gelli plate that I have not explored before.  The following are images from Day One.  http://www.carlasonheim.blogspot.com/

I lost 2 others in cyber space......
The folllowing images are influenced by Jane Davies.

Day 3 of Carla's class - Day 2 was my gathering stencil/stamp material.

These are not my best.  Hopefully I can salvage them during Friday's printing class!

Things I have learned so far
1.  A whole new way of gell printing:  ink up part of the plate, print just part of the paper, watercolor effect (adding water to the leftover paint on the plate), hold 2 ends of the paper and dip onto plate
2.  always add a second color to the plate - don't use paint right from bottle/tube
3.  Cardstock stencils may stick to the plate - ugh - leaves pulp behind
4.  Cardstock stencils end up looking beautiful with layers of paint - great collage material!
5.  Work in a series.  Carla had us print 8 papers - of course 8 was not enough for me.....

I'm sure there's more.......  I'll return to gelli printing again after Friday's class.

I highly recommend Carla's class.  Check the Flickr link to the class images.  A real treat.  http://www.flickr.com/groups/2247646@N22/pool/with/8784377807/#photo_8784377807

More Monoprints

 As you can see I've been having way too much fun.  Gel printing/monoprinting is quite addictive.  Now what to do with all of these creations.  Several of the paper ones were my favorites so I printed the images onto inkjet fabric sheets.  I'm using Jacquard Cotton today.   I've used several other brands.  I don't have a favorite at this point.  I'll stitch - hand and machine - at a later date.

Below is a mock-up of a fabric monoprint.  I added some fabrics I printed and painted using the same paints to help coordinate the design.  Needs a zinger color/fabric.

 I've repeated that happy experiment of spraying leaves and plate with water.

 A paper favorite

 Definitely another favorite.

Now I must get supplies in order for the Wildacres, NC Nature Printing Society Workshop.  Husband and I leave Monday!!!!!!

Oh, it's been such a long, long time........

Months have gone by and I have not written.  Shame on me!
I've been getting ready for the annual Nature Printing Society's Workshop which will be held at Wildacres, NC.  I'll be taking classes in printing paper and fabric, polymer clay and giving a class in gelatin printing.  So I've been experimenting, though I definitely feel like it's playing!  I've been having a great time!  Here are some of my results.

 Reorienting myself to how much paint to put on the plate.  I'm using a gelli plate instead of making my own plate using Knox plain gelatin.  It's so much easier and spontaneous.  The above - a bit more paint then I'd like in order to layer.  First print, a ghost, then removed the leave/mask and printed the last.

The next image was a delightful find.  I sprayed the used plate I had already printed from with water and placed paper on top - twice!

 This is a fabric piece I plan to collage from fabric, stitch until done!

 Some printing using a stencil with rectangles cut out over inked plate and masks and printed, then masks and stencil removed.  I used some fabric as well as paper.

 Printing on black papers - so cool

 I use the same brush and brayer throughout the printing session - to clean them I remove the excess paint onto fabric and/or paper so as not to waste the paints.  Here are two examples.

 Below are some of the materials I used as masks.  I will incorporate them into collages, etc.

I noticed I didn't take an images of the papers I printed in transparent layers.  I will shortly!

Such fun!!!!!!

Studio Work Plus Gallery Opening

Here are some of the note cards completed.  How I just love to print leaves.  I can get into such a relaxed, meditative state printing nature.  The feel of the leaves are I press and rub them to transfer the paint onto the paper/fabric is soothing.  I printed the back of the envelops as well.

 I drove to St. Augustine - 1.5 hours- for the opening of the Fiber Art Gallery, a part of Butterfield Garage Art Gallery.  Lots of folks came and enjoyed an evening of art and refreshments.  Here is some of my work on display.  Most of the "fiber Art" is wearables.  The room looks very nice.

 I played with paint, leaves and the gelli plate on paper and fabric.  I'm working on layering.  This is one of my favorites.  I'll put more up later.

During Wimbledon Tennis matches and tour de France, I've been working through these two books - folding books.  A rediscovered love as you know from previous posts.  I'll be doing some stitch bindings soon. 

Do back soon.  Thanks for visiting.