Wednesday 2 April 2014

Playing around - simple DIY printing

The last couple of weeks have been frantically busy,  both work and home/family-wise. I also succumbed to a sinus infection which put me out of action for a few days, after which, rushing to get everything done  I felt I was meeting myself coming  backwards. But - the mindfulness/gratitude strategy is slowly sinking in. Instead of panicking (my usual strategy) I realised I needed to take things a bit more steadily and further playtime was necessary! In place of stitching today I decided to have some fun with paint.

This is so good for me - I really don't do messy - and I find it hard to play and push back  my neat and tidy comfort zone! (Himself  says I  am Monica from 'Friends!') Sadly he's not wrong,  I do tend to work in a detailed and controlled way,  so loosening up play times aren't natural to  me, but I'm learning!

I was very impressed with my friend Alison's Gelli Plate for mono printing. I didn't think I'd really use one enough to warrant buying my own,  but  it did inspire me to try a few DIY printy things,  without spending a lot of money.

First I picked some leaves from the garden,  sloshed a mix of Artist's watercolour paints on the back and pressed them onto watercolour paper - using a kitchen towel.


This was really fun!  I tried a few more watercolour prints in my journal on cartridge paper. (These are St Petersburg White Nights watercolour paints which I love.)


Then I got out my fabric scrap bag and tried using acrylic paint onto calico. First I tried some Jacquard Textile paint. I really like how these buddleia leaf prints turned out.


 Flushed with success -  I made up a rough plate using a piece of mat board with some acetate stuck on it  - to see if it would work. I didn't have a brayer, so used a natural sponge to apply the paint (just cheap acrylic craft paint to which  I added some fabric painting medium.(All very high tech!)


Pretty rough and ready, but it worked ok!

I don't have any stamps, so I drew into the paint using a rubber tipped art tool,  then laid fabric scraps over the design and lightly rubbed. These are the results:

 


Not too bad for a first attempt,  and these are much more free and expressive than how I normally work.  I think I may try a thick silicon mat for a base,  as it will have more spring and flex - and get a proper brayer! Anyone got any tips or suggestions for other DIY/recycled tools and equipment to share -  or more fun ways to play with printing?

I'm going to take some of these prints and see how I can develop them a bit more too.x


16 comments:

  1. Well done! I esp.l love the 2nd photo with all those colours. :-)

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  2. You could also start playing with textured paints...!

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  3. Jules your printings are wonderful. I also do not like messy but have enjoyed some fun with my Gelli Plate. Merely google Gelli Arts and there are many many ideas and tips and suggestions. I get on overload so have not done a lot of printings. I did some on fabric and like that best. Creative Printing Bliss...

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  4. Wow, these are beautiful playing results!
    I have a long time such no more done ... why not?
    Have a nice and sunny springtime :-)

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  5. such an interesting blog you have shared today, would never have thought of painting a leaf like you did, have some water colours that I decided to get rid of by now thinking come autumn I will be picking up leaves and having a go

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  6. Thanks Jules for an interesting post, I've never seen the gelli printing plate before so I will soon follow in your footsteps and have a go with what I have in the store cupboard. Your leaf prints are lovely.

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  7. Jules this looks like fun and in the process you have got some beautiful prints. I love the leaf prints with many colours

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  8. Lovely! What a great blog post, beautiful results from your experimenting :) I love the painted flower prints on fabric - especially cream and blue colored one.

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  9. These are wonderful Jules , I would love to give this a go , sounds like fun ! I love your results .

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  10. Those are wonderful Jules, love them all! I have a recipe for a do-it-yourself Gelli plate made from gelatin, I'll email you the recipe so you can have some gelli plate fun without having to spend too much :O)

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  11. These are wonderful Jules! My favorites are the last two. What a terrific result from your play. I have a really hard time loosening up and "playing' too, but you have inspired me once again. Great post!

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  12. oh they look just fabulous! Love the multi-coloured leaves

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  13. Fabulous leaves, Jules - I love them, especially the leaves with the brighter colours. The little rollers you get for lino cutting are quite useful for rolling over an image - gently! Looking forward to the next stage on the fabric ones: embroidery maybe?

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  14. love these Jules-and looks like allot of fun too. I am making a handmade journal per Shroos tutorial-something like this would be perfect to include-thanks for the inspiration

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  15. wow love all the pages you created and the prints on the fabric....this is what i need to do...just get in my studio and play play play great results! thank you for sharing

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