Colors and Pen and Ink

The top four feather pieces are exactly that, four pieces of two feathers.  It is a thin plastic stencil you combine to make two whole feathers.  I decided to use it as a whole stencil.  The large feather at the bottom is a real feather.  The squiggly lines in the background are a sgraffito technique I learned from Jane Davies.

I then decided to go back into the dry print with some pen and ink work with some outlines and details.

7.5" x 9.5"
Monoprint
Pen and Ink

I'm not sure but I think this might have been a quick little demo of some techniques in class.

Once again that little black pen seems to have appeared and taken over the print.  In the end I think this will make four very nice laminated book marks.


5" x 7"
Monoprint
Pen and Ink

Still out of play but….

Well, I've been out of play since May.  Needed another surgery on my wrist for some ligament damage….stay vertical people!  This time I had a cast up over my elbow for immobility and healing so I got a lot of reading done.

Anyway…. I found I had a couple of things I hadn't posted so here they are.

This little 5.5" square print was watercolor painted onto a plexi plate which I let dry before printing. I then went back in with pen.  I got to a place where I really liked it and then went too far and didn't like it.  So I figured if I was going I might as well go all the way and now I love it!  I'm naming this one "Kimonos".

This is the last of my 5.5" x 14" series that I was able to work on before my little break.  Not to say it is the last in the series as I have more waiting in the flat files.

I also chose to add a little bit of white accents to this piece for a little sparkle.

I can't wait until I can get back to really working on art.  The big cast is off and I'm back in the split but my elbow is free to help hold big pieces in place while my pen find the wandering trail!

Oops! Off track again!

I'm still having some issues with the wrist so it is in "Time Out" for 4 weeks in a cast.  If this doesn't work back to surgery.

Oh boy!

So in the mean time I'm back to working on my 5.5" x 14" series of Monoprints with Pen work.  Larger pieces are better since I can only hold the images in place with my left elbow as I work on them.

I guess I really need to have a show titled  
5.5" x 14"

Monoprint Demo Piece

A few weeks ago I did a demo in my monoprint class on how I ink a collagraph plate which is a textured or layered plate built on illustration board.  Once the plate is sealed it can be inked and printed many times, each time being very different even if one tries to repeat an inking.

8.5" x 8.5" Collagraph Plate

Back on Track

Ok…trying to get back on track with art work and posting.  Yikes, I totally missed January!

I've still been working with my 5.5" x 14" monoprints and a permanent black pen.  These are very relaxing to play with and see where my pen in hand takes me.  Some of these prints were from fairly resent Monoprint Demos I had done at local art leagues and some were from just playing around and "pushing ink".

The "fish" print was made using some rubber cut stamps I made of the fish. They were inked and stamped onto the plate but then once printed they are reversed on the print. The top stamp is actually the word "fish" stylized to be a fish shape.

I think the feather print still needs some more work but I thought I would share it anyway.  I'll post it again when I add some more line work to it.


5.5" x 14" Monoprints and Pen

Doing what I Can…..

Still trying to get in some art here and there as my broken arm heals.  This is a ghost print of a monoprint plate done last semester.  A ghost is made by pulling a second print from a plate without adding thing else to the plate.  I had used some weeds to get the plant images on the first print and this is the ink that was left under those weeds when I removed then.  I then added my black pen and color pencils to add more interest to the print.

5.5" x 14" Monoprint
Pen and Color Pencil

Another monoprint which was just a two color background with a blue string placed on the plate.    I felt this was another fun one to get out my pen and play with Zentangle.  After I was finished with the pen it was rather flat so I added some white pencil to try and give it some depth.

5" x 5" Monoprint
Pen and White Pencil

This Zentangle was another one from my 5" Handbook that I found I had not shared yet.  Starting in the center I drew single Mooka style petals and added ink to the center to make the petals pop.  I felt it could use a border and I though Quabog would fit nicely!  I also really enjoy doing Quabog with the flow of a continual line.

5" Handbook and Pen

Broken Summer

Broken as in arm complete with surgery! Don't try this at home or anywhere else for that matter! Lucky for me it was my left non dominant hand so some art is still happening but very limited.

This is a 5.5" x 14" monoprint that I had started some line work on and was able to finish with a slow but sure approach.  I used the new Tomboy Mono pens which worked very nicely on the water based inks.

My sister said it looks like jazz!


Monoprint and Ink Pen

Pushing the Plate

I had some time to play a little last semester in my Monoprint class because I have such awesome people in class who work away making wonderful prints.

Using torn paper I created the background of hills and mountains.  The viewing lady was cut from file folder as well as the flowery swirls which were all inked and placed on top of the inked plate.

This is the finished print pulled from that first plate but…….

there is still the original background ink left on the plate that was masked by the added stencils of the swirls and the lady.  Using that same unwashed plate I added a little more ink and then inked up more cut out stencils of the foliage and the honeycomb and yes I did cut that honeycomb.

This is the print pulled from the first plate with some manipulation of more ink and stencils.  I call this "pushing the plate".  You can only get the second print if you pull the first print and use the information left on the plate.

These prints are 8" x 10"

One of these prints will be the raffle prize at the May Tustin Art League meeting where I will be doing a Monoprint Demonstration.  I couldn't decide which one to use so I framed them both and will give the winner their choice.

Zentangled Monotype

It started with a monotype.  I rolled different colors of ink onto the plate in a random way.  Then I took the plate to the sink and dripping water onto the inked plate I tipped and turned the plate manipulating the inks on the surface until I was happy with the results. Next I left the plate to dry and then pulled this monotype.

After the print was dry I played with pen and ink and this is the result.  I saw trees, foliage and rocks on the monotype and so that's what I went with using a nice juicy black gel pen and a white paint pen I created this magical little forest.

Monotype

Pen and Ink

9"x 11"

Tree Challenge

Every month in my art critique group, we do a challenge to push our creativity.  This month we were given a copy of this tree to use as our inspiration for any medium in any size.

I decided to combine a lino cut with monoprint backgrounds to make a series of prints.

This is the lino cut plate with the background cut away.  It is an 8" x 10" piece of unmounted linoleum to it could go through the press.

These are the 8" x 10" prints in a variety of color combos.

I went for a series of different colors which look like sherbet to me!

I will have to play with more colors soon.

 I then decided to wrap the prints around 5" x 7" museum canvases using matt medium.

After that dried I added two coats of gloss medium, letting each layer dry.

You can actually see the texture of the embossing of the linocut in the finished pieces.

It was a great challenge.

a little happy play….

This was a little monoprint I did one day while playing in class.  I decided to add a bit of fun to the print with Zentangles.

I should have taken a real "before" picture but didn't think about it.

After a little more playing I ended up here.  I decided to add a grid to the upper left to mimic the grid left from a piece of netting on the monoprint.

I could have filled the grid with the same design as on the right but decided to add a little n"Zeppel tangle pattern instead.  These are really fun to play with and see where they take me.


5" x 7" Monoprint and Ink

Huntington Beach Art League

I was invited to be the guest speaker, demonstrator at the Huntington Beach Art League this past January.

So on a very stormy night my little printing press and I ventured out in thunder and lightening to get the job done.

I was given a very warm welcome and if I don't mind saying so myself it was a very fun and successful evening.

Lots of ohhs and ahhs as each new print was pulled and I sold all of my demo pieces.

Before the demo I also was given the privilege of judging the art pieces brought in by the league members.  There were several categories including Best of Show.  This was also a first for me but still fun at the same time.

Thank you Miss Jane for inviting me to come and share my love for monoprints with your group.  It was a wonderful experience.

Fishkets on a Wall

Here are my "Fishkets" matted, framed and hanging where I can enjoy them everyday.
Each monoprint is 5.5" x 14" and the framed piece is 27" x 42"

Two More Fishkets

I said I would and I did…pushed that plate a couple more times to get these two prints.

This plate was done after the red one on the previous post.  I added a metallic gold over the remaining red and then played with the linocuts of fish and the gaskets to add more information to the plate.

After printing the gold print, I added a lovely blue over the remaining information and played some more even adding a new gasket.  

I have decided to call this series "Fishkets"….sounded better than Gaskish to me.  Now I am waiting for that big special coupon for the framing so they can be displayed together.

5.5" x 14"  Speedball Inks

Gaskets and Fish

I have a smaller class this semester for Monoprinting and this affords me a little press time of my own.  Yesterday, I brought a group of gaskets I picked up somewhere and some linocuts of some fish I had done awhile back. Now generally gaskets and fish wouldn't be in the same thought but when one of those gaskets looks like a shell the mind seems to think, "well…maybe".

On the first plate I mixed a teal blue for the background and then used the linocuts to stamp images on the plate. I also pressed some small gaskets into the wet background to lift some ink and leave a vague image. Then I inked the gaskets and placed them on the plate for printing.

When you remove the gaskets after printing there is lots of information left on the plate so without washing the plate I added yellow ink to the background and then stamped more fish and gaskets and printed a second paper. After that print there was still great information left on the plate so on to more manipulation and the red print.

I thought that would be it but darn if there wasn't even more interested stuff left behind.  Put the plate in my drawer to wait for next class and a few more pulls on the press.

5.5" x 14" Plates  Waterbased Speedball Inks

Featured Artist….

…who me?  Yes me, thanks to my friend, Liberty at Liberty Fine Arts Gallery, I will be her featured artist for this month's Santiago Art Walk.

I will have 17 pieces and my sketchbooks on display.  If you are in the area stop by and say hi!

Free parking at the Santa Ana Train Depot
The Santiago Lofts and the Art Walk are across the street.

Colorful Zentangles

My sister ask if I had a piece of art she could have to give to someone who is going through a battle with cancer.  I did a few Zentangles for her to choose from.  This is the one that she chose after much decision making.  It is a mandala style Zentangle done on top of a monoprint.

This one was also in the "choose" pile.  I think it has a softer, flowy feel to it which makes my eye move and wander around the square.

I think these are both about 6" square.

Pen on Monoprints

Horizon Lines

My art critique group does monthly challenges to keep our creative juices flowing.  This month's challenge is to compose a landscape with either a very high or a very low horizon line.

I did a series of small 5" x 5" monoprints.
My first print is with a very high horizon line.  I only used my palette knife for this one, laying in the layers of colors and the using the side of the knife to break up the foreground.

My second print, also with the palette knife, was supposed to be my very low horizon line but wasn't as low as I think it should be…..and it looks more like a seascape with the waves crashing over some rocks with absolutely no horizon line. Hmmm…maybe I'll get extra credit!

So I tried another very low horizon. This time I rolled the ink on for the background sky and used the palette knife again for the ground and palm tree.

It was fun to work in a series of horizon lines but also fun to work with the palette knife to create my images.

…and Jane came up with a new class quote:
"Anything worth doing is worth doing in a series"

Pushing ink….

My monoprint class students this semester are off and playing so I get a little time to push some ink around as well in class.

I cut a 5.5" square plexi plate and using a water based black crayon I drew some ovals and then added some speedball water based inks.

I think I needed more pressure on the press for this one because my black lines did not release.  No problem I just got out one of my many black pens and add them back in.

Playing around, Playing around, ah, ah, ah, ah, Playing around!

Back to Class

 

Tomorrow starts another 10 weeks of teaching my monoprint class.  These works I did as an example for my students to show the value of working in a series and pushing the design and the plate to see where it will go.  The pods were cut out of manilla file folder and yes, I am a little nuts! I then inked the plate and placed the inked pods on top and got the green print.  When the pods were removed from the plate they left behind the green ink that was under them. I flipped the plate added more ink to it and the pods and ran a second print.           

 

Then without washing off the plate I added some lines with the side of my brayer and re-inked the pods to get the blue plate.  The next print has the other pods added with more ink.  On the final plate I cut the  stem of the blue pod and added it to the top left.  These five prints were made on the same plate which was not washed or wiped down in between prints.  I call this "pushing the plate".  You can see all the ghost pods and images in the background.  Pushing the plate in a series is fun and you never know where it will take you!

5.5" x 11" Monoprints