Category Archives: printing

Wrapped

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Sometimes I wish I could insert images into a post in bulk. I still can’t believe there’s no facility for it in WordPress. I went searching for one again, and instead I found the gallery option:

Not quite what I had in mind, but it will do for this post.

This little project came about because I had bought two rolls of newsprint sheets for warm up sketches in life drawing classes, only to find the surface so slippery that charcoal wouldn’t stick. Testing other kinds of paper, I’ve found that heavy duty newsprint has a softer surface that doesn’t resist charcoal, and multi-purpose paper is even nicer cheap paper to work on (and more likely to suit purposes other than life drawing). I’m also using the brown paper that I bought from Reverse Art Truck.

But what to do with the first batch of newsprint? I could use it to cover a work surface when painting, but I prefer to make use of actual newspaper for that. While experimenting with intaglio printing I separated the tools and such for relief printing into their own storage box, and as I did I thought about the extra water based ink colours I’d bought and what else I could use them for.

The two excess craft materials came together in my head, and I had the answer: wrapping paper! I don’t have a lot of the commercial sort, and tend to keep it for craft projects.

In the first pic you can see the homemade stamps, ink, roller and spatula I used for the printing. Most of the stamps were the ones I cut from a foam pet bowl mat. I also tried stamps made from washers, and plastic ones I’d bought from the craft store.

I started with the heart stamps, keeping to one colour, and decided to make two sheets of each pattern where possible or, in the case of the heart outlines, two that matched.

The leaves were the first multi-colour pattern, followed by the stars, in which I tried using gold acrylic paint for the mid-sized ones (but it was a bit thin for this sort of printing) and the fish and waves (with the washer stamp used for the bubbles).

The green and yellow one with stripes wasn’t so successful. The yellow stripes used the plastic shop-bought stamp, and it didn’t take to the ink very well. I suspect it’s better suited to stamp pads than this sort of printing.

At this point I tried a few other things: dripping paint on and then squishing two sheets together (and then adding blue circles using the lid of a bottle; using the roller to apply paint. My favourite is the orange ‘ombre’ one, in which I used up an old tube of orange acrylic paint by ‘inking’ up the roller, then rolling always in one direction, starting from the right.

The last photo is of the laser printed pages I rolled the excess ink and paint off onto. I still love the way these look. One of these days I’m going to work out a way to turn them into something.

Second Thoughts

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I dunno about this printing malarky.

After I’d worked out that I needed oil-based printing ink, I hunted some down. A few weekends ago I had some time to try it out. I had the simple collograph plate I’d made from cardboard (on the left) and sealed with varnish. I also tried scratching into the acetate sheeting, copying a warm-up sketch from life drawing classes.

I inked up the acetate plate first. Apply ink, wipe off, soak paper (I chose drawing paper and pages from a book), put everything through the pasta maker:

Then I inked up the collograph plate and did the same:

The printed sheets went between tracing paper and blotting paper, then under a heavy object overnight.

Looking at these now, I’m more pleased with the result than I was at the time. The paper isn’t that suited to printing and crinkled. I should be using watercolour paper or specific printing paper. But I didn’t want to use expensive paper until these tests revealed if the other parts of the process were working okay.

What I found most annoying and off-putting was the ink. It’s much, much messier than I’d ever anticipated. I knew I’d have to use turps for cleaning up and that didn’t worry me because I’ve painted with oils for years. But oil paints will wash off with soap and water. Printing ink gets into your skin and stays there, despite repeated wiping with turps, until you later touch something like the fridge or the book you’re reading or your clothing.

Wearing gloves while using the stuff is definitely a must. Trouble is, I’m allergic to latex. The only non-latex gloves I know of are dishwashing gloves, and they’re so thick and awkward, I can’t imagine handling small printing plates with them on.

The other problem with the ink is that the nearest sink is in the bathroom, and I’m really not keen on getting it covered in difficult-to-remove ink. Clearly this sort of printing requires a different sort of facility. A studio with sinks (and proper ventilation) rather than a ‘family room’ style workroom. One day…

So the intaglio printing tools and materials have been packed away for now. However, I have kept the relief printing tools and materials out, and I have a project in mind for this weekend – which will use the water-based printing inks I bought with the mistaken intention of using them for intaglio printing.

Recreating not Refashioning

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After I realised I didn’t have the right inks for printing plates, I turned to another printing project I’ve been meaning to try. A long, long time ago I went to the Cook Islands with a friend, where I bought this t-shirt:

I loved that t-shirt so much. The fabric is now so thin from being washed so many times that it’s practically see-through, and bleaching doesn’t seem to get rid of the discolouration of age any more. Though I haven’t worn it for years, I can’t make myself throw it away.

When I saw this product at Zart Art I grabbed a pack. I’ve seen it on US based artist’s blogs, but never found it locally until now.

With this stuff I could recreate the t-shirt. So I traced the main pictorial elements and got carving.

It won’t be exactly the same, of course. I made the dolphin a bit less basic, for a start. And I won’t have the type along the bottom. But once I get hold of a t-shirt to print on, I’m going to see if I can make something similar.

Happiness is Learning a New Skill

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It’s been a while since I attempted any printing. The pasta maker is still clamped to the edge of the table, but my last printing session raised a lot of questions about materials and methods, and made it clear I needed to seek more information and better tools.

On Saturday Paul needed an ideas journal and I wanted to check out local sources of paper for life drawing, so we headed to Zart Art. I came home with lots of printing supplies, including these two books:

I then sat down and read the Collagraph book from cover to cover. It answered a few questions and introduced me to even more techniques. However, it assumes you have a lot of knowledge about printing already. Much of this is in the Etching book, thankfully. But there were still things I had to work out for myself.

I’d bought an etching tool and some clear acetate sheets, because the plastic I tried to use for plates was very hard to cut and scratch into, and repelled the printing ink.

I also bought more ink.

On Sunday I dug out the collagraph I’d already made of cardboard and paper. Following the advice in the books, I varnished the back and edges, soaked some cheap paper – a page from a book and some used office paper because I didn’t want to use expensive 100% rag paper yet – inked the plate, wiped off the excess, blotted the paper and tried a print.

It came out a bit dark and blurry. I figured I hadn’t wiped enough ink off, and maybe the book page was too absorbent despite soaking. So I inked again, wiped more and tried the office paper. This time I could see I was on the right track, but the ink went kind of slushy.

A bit more consulting of books and of jar labels and I realised that the water-based printing inks are really only meant for relief printing (stamps, linocut, etc.). Paper that goes through a press is dampened in order to get an embossed effect and push into the grooves that contain the ink. Damp paper and water-based ink = blurred lines and ink gone slushy. I need oil-based inks.

There was no point trying the acetate sheets, as they’d need oil-based ink, too. Still, the prints that I did had black lines where the grooves in the collagraph plate were, and that was kind of an exciting glimpse at how things will eventually work once I get this process right.

So I have a new shopping list, and it goes a bit like this:

oil-based printing ink
printing paper
blotting paper
new studio with large sink for washing oil-based ink off printing plates

Year in Craft – 2010

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This blog’s former incarnation was a knitting blog, and at this time of year I used to do a bit of an overview of the projects I’d finished the previous year. I thought it might be interesting to do an overview of everything I completed last year, not just the knitwear.

First, for old times sake, the knitting (and crochet):

Knitting & Crochet:
Josh Socks (gift)
Cherie Amour (op shopped)
Bean’s Monkeys (gift)
Safire
Pussy Cat
Origami Bolero
Beky’s Socks (gift)
Argyle Vest (winner)
Bramblewood (op shop)
Emma’s Socks (gift)
Mossy Mobius Scarf (winner)
Donna’s Socks (gift)
Possum Mobius Scarf (winner)
Lion Jacket (winner)
Alison’s Socks (gift)
Piper Hat
Dad’s Socks (gift)
Purple Jumper
Glitzy Mobius Scarf
Toast Wristwarmers
Leafy Wristwarmers
Slinky Ribs
Argyle Vest #2 (winner)
Touch Yarn Socks
Sideways Stripe Vest (op shop)
Loom ends scarf (gift)
Dad’s brown socks (gift)
Owls Hat (gift)
Navy Crochet Hat (gift)

I did a second Socks For Others Club last year. That, for new visitors, was a sock ‘club’ in which I knit socks for other people rather than myself, because I now have not just an overflowing sock drawer but a growing stockpile. It was great fun and by having people put their hands up for socks I ensured my knitting had an appreciative recipient. A win for everyone!

The other challenge I set myself was the Bernardathon. I love the designs of Wendy Bernard, but though I’d had her first book, Custom Knits, for a while, I hadn’t knit anything from it. So I picked three projects and spent the winter knitting them. The Lion Jacket was a real winner – I wore it many, many times.

It was also a year of unintended stash reduction. I hadn’t put myself on a stash diet, but found I didn’t want to buy more. At first I just wanted to reduce the yarn so it all fit in the storage I have for it. And then I just kept going, only buying yarn late in the year when I had to buy some for a gift. I also culled the stash a few times, giving kilos of it away. The stash is now about 2/3 the size it was at the start of the year, and though I do now feel the occasional twinge of yarn acquisition temptation, I still want to continue using up what I’ve got.

Weaving:
Mt Pisa woven scarf (gift)
Red & White hand towels (winner)
Black & Grey ruffle scarf (gift)
Bamboo Scarf #1 (gift)
Twill Blanket #1 (gift) (winner)
Bamboo Scarf #2 (gift)
Twill Blanket #2
Denim Floor Rug #2 (winner)

I hadn’t noticed how much of my weaving I’ve given away this year. I don’t mind the giving, but I am noticing that a lot of my weaving is done to use up leftover yarn, in particular because I found it unsuitable to knit or crochet. The weaving yarn stash is growing, mainly because of this occasional overflow from the yarn stash. I don’t mind this too much, except that I’d like to be weaving yarn I selected for a weaving project more often. Or, in the case of rag rugs, weaving with something other than yarn.

Book Binding & Paper Craft:
Concertina Badge Booklet (winner)
Chain Stitch Sketch Book
Panorama Sketch Book
Bookbinding Class Book
Matchbook Notebooks (winner)
Doodle Book #1
Birthday Album (winner)
Test Book (now diary)
Fused Plastic Book
Palm Leaf Holiday Memory Book (winner)
Coptic Bound Travel Journal (gift) (winner)
Podcast Journal (art journal)
Denim Notebook (winner)
NZ Photo Album (winner)
Apple & Pear Book Sculptures (winner)
Dimensional Circle Ornaments (winner)
Mini Book
Smartie Book
Underground Book (winner)
Knitter’s Journal
Doodle Book #2
Book Pages Paper Jewellery (winner)
Security Envelope Paper Jewellery
Masquerade Book Mask
Brown Paper Sketchbook
Map Cards & Envelopes
Concertina Sketchbooks
Shopping Bag Booklet
Marbled Paper book
Discovery Channel Book

Oh, I had so much fun with book binding, paper craft and repurposing books this year! I particularly had fun using recycled materials in these projects. However, I’ve been doing less of it lately, mainly because I got all inspired by refashioning clothes.

Refashioning/Repurposing:
Russian Book Bags (winner)
Mannequin Legs plant stand (winner)
Solar Dyed singlet top
Rusty Nail Dyed T-shirt (winner)
Mirror Frames from Junk (winner)
Portable Oil Painting Kit
Instant Scarf
Homemade Paint Box (winner)
London Tea Towel Pillows (winner)
Impromptu Skirt (op shop)
Blue Motto Top
Gauzy Motto Top
Doodle Shoes #1 (winner)
Not-Boring iPhone Cover
Motto dress to a top (winner)
Red skirt to a top
Cheesecloth top
Black & grey skivvies to tops
Black skirt slim down
Black skirt to a top (winner)
Fob Watch Necklace
Doodle Shoes #2
Foam Stamps
Denim shorts into skirt
Striped shorts into miniskirt
Oversized Shirt into Sleeveless Top (winner)
T-shirt into skirt (winner)
T-shirts into tube headscarves
Man’s shirt into a dress (winner)
Painted iPhone cover
Dress Form (winner)

2010 was a year of recycling and refashioning for me. Many of the projects I finished used recycled materials, or supplies I already had, or involved sprucing up something new. Even the duct tape dress form was stuffed with bubble wrap left over from mail-order parcels. I became addicted to New Dress A Day and went from tweaking a few garments I already had to buying them from the op shop or giving new life to Paul’s culled shirts.

Another challenge was Projects for 2010, which I’ve covered in a recent post.

It was also a year for sketching. I tried to do a sketch a week and succeeded (with a few catch-ups), posting them under the Sketch Sunday category. Looking over the year’s sketches, I’ve moved from pencil and charcoal to pen and watercolour as my preferred medium.

I finished the year with a growing interest in simple printing methods and painting. This year I have plans to return to art classes. Looking back on last year, I’m pretty chuffed at how much I made and all the new paths of creativity I discovered and explored. Who knows what other creative inspirations will come my way this year!

Printing with a Pasta Machine

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My recent interest in stamps and printing stuff led me to discover that you can use a pasta machine for printing. Well, I had to try that!

I picked up a machine on sale. It was cheap because it had no box. I knew I would have to make some adjustments, so I certainly didn’t want to buy a full price one. The problem is that pasta flexes, but printing plates don’t. Putting a plate through a machine has this problem:

The plate is going to encounter the base and go no further. Some unscrewing and rescrewing later:

Base removed. Next I got Paul to make a new base that would allow me to clamp the machine to the edge of the table:

I cut a piece of felt from some whacky cleaning product my parents had got themselves sucked in by, and Paul suggested a type of thin and stiff sheet plastic I could try using as a printing plate.

First I tried a very simple method. You ink the plate, put a flat object or stencil on it, then run it through the machine with some damp paper.

I cut a stencil from some thin plastic. The print on the top left is the result. Unfortunately, the dampness of the paper caused the ink to bleed. Maybe because I used watercolour paper. Then I tried running the inked side of the stencil through (top right), then the plate with the stencils removed (bottom left). The ink had reacted in an interesting way to the water in the paper. So I then tried the cut outs from the stencil with acrylic paint (bottom right).

Next I tried scratching into a piece of the plastic I was using as a plate, using a scratchboard tool.

I rolled in on and ran it through, and got a relief effect (I think that’s the term). Then I wiped the ink off to try and get an intaglio effect (the ink caught in the scratches prints).

But it was too easy to wipe the ink out of the scratches. Figuring the scratchboard tool didn’t make deep enough lines, I tried using my linocut carving tools to enlarge them. But that only made it easier to wipe the ink out.

So instead of wiping off the ink, I scraped it off with a scrap of plastic. This worked better, though it leaves a lot of ink/paint behind. I kind of like it, though.

I had lots of fun experimenting. Next I want to try collagraph printing. This is where you make a plate by gluing things to a card then varnishing it. I’ve made a little test collagraph ready for my next opportunity to play with printing.