I've been missing printmaking of late. I used to be a printmaker, in that most of my art was made in that process; with a press and inks and brayers and silk screens etc.
I used to make both monoprints with my press as backgrounds, then hand cut out stencils of things as , say chairs and sofas (I am obsessed) and then 'burn screens' which is a process.
Acetate is made with dark silhouette to put on a screen which is stretched onto a frame. Then light sensitive emulsion was spread on the screen and placed in a dark room to dry (as it is sensitve to the light) then in that room acetate taped to dried screen then exposed to light for a period of time...and on it went.
Over all I loved the process but I've not done that in some time. However, I love the act of printmaking.
So yesterday, stuck inside with the snow and rain mix of the New England day, I messed about with a little system I love to use. It's simple polystyrene or Styrofoam plates. They're had easily enough at the dollar store.
But, by making indents into them with any tool, I used a pencil here and then end of a paintbrush and just went for it.
You can see it's quite primative at first, just a single layer of printing ink (you could use any acrylic paint most like but I like the viscosity of printers ink as it can really prints nicely)
Surely, it's just a simple beginning but I've all sorts of fun plans to do with these plates.
I've pressed out this pattern, just free-hand, based on my lovely petunias. Even tho it's Winter and the ground is covered with snow I always bring in a pot of my favourite petunias so I can take cuttings from them all Winter to make MORE plants come Summer.
The main mother plant just started to bloom last week and I think that's what really inspired me to get out the polystyrene and make some fun simple patterns.
We shall see where it leads, but I think the patterns and design I'll make in this fun simple form of printmaking will also make it's way into my digital paintings as backgrounds and patterns on lady's dresses painted in digital oil.
Whatever becomes of it, I'm having fun and that's the main impetus for art for me. A challenge and some fun and then get stuck in.
And as it seems the snow is around a bit longer, as evidenced by this morning's cold 16F day, I'll be staying in the studio and getting work done and of course a bit of play as well.
I hope you find a moment to indulge in your own passion today and as always, stay creative!
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