Cutting Stencils and Printing

My public library has a really cool resource. They have a library of things and in that library there is a CriCut Explore Air 2. I borrowed this device so I could try cutting some stencils. It is working well and I have cut several stencils. I started out trying to cut stencils from card stock. Unfortunately, they are just a little flimsy for printing on a gelatin plate. I remembered that I had some synthetic paper called YUPO. The Yupo makes a perfect stencil. It is thin enough for the Gelli plate while being sturdy enough that it doesn't tear or move around while you're using it. I even used to piece that I had painted on and was unhappy with to cut stencils. 

You should know that this is going to be very photo heavy. First, I will show you some stencils I cut.

Wavy lines interspersed with dots and shapes.

Wavy lines in a row

I don't know what to call this one. 

Ladders/building windows

More wavy lines and "stuff"

Circles

Wavy lines, circles and a missing ladder.

Here is an odd swirl shape and the missing ladder

The missing ladder was part of the learning curve.

I cut this out of pink card stock.  I used that green section in one of my prints

Honestly this is too fine and flimsy to work well. 

Again, part of the learning curve

I created drawings for the stencils on my iPad in Procreate. 

Then I send the file (jpeg) to my computer. From there it goes to the Cricut software. 

I delete the background white from the drawing there. 

Then the machine cuts the design and I am left with a stencil which is actually the background.

I also get the shapes that are cut out.  Those can be tossed out or used as masks when printing

 on the gelatine plate. I will say for me, it depends on the size and if I think I will use it. 

So here are a bunch of my more successful prints. 

As a gelli print, this is a failure.  For me - well, I love it. This was an attempt to print on

the Yupo paper that I used for cutting stencils. I have painted on this paper in the past, so

I know it takes paint well.  The problem is that it doesn't absorb the moisture and dry. 

Thus, when I pulled the print, lots of paint was left on the plate.

Which leads up to this print

This is what was left on the plate.  I printed it on newsprint so it isn't as white in the unpainted areas.

I like it and think I will use it in a collage.

Printed on deli paper using the "ghost print" from part of a stencil

I took weaving thread/yarn and laid it into the paint on the plate and pulled a print. 

Above is the ghost print from the previous string print. 

I will likely add more color to this - but maybe I should leave it neutral for collage

Decisions, decisions.

This is on tracing paper that is very similar to deli paper. 

I think this was string also, but I am not sure. 
I printed the black on the front of the paper.  Later, I added color

to the back because I wanted to try it. 

Left side - using string (ghost print)  Right side - ghost print from a stencil

All those lovely circles. Hmm... I know I printed the black first then used transparent

paints and printed the colors over the black.

One of my FAVORITES. I put the cream paint on the plate, then the stencil. I pulled the print.  

THEN the ghost print was pulled over a field of blue, purple, red that I had previously printed. 

I just find this one so satisfying.

At some point I need to use some of these papers to create collage. But that last one, I 

don't think I can cut it up.  It could just get mounted on a canvas - as is!

Linking to Sunday in the Art Room

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Print Play, Repeat

 Lately, I have been playing a lot with gelatin plate printing. I have had some moderate successes and some grand failures.  It is all a part of the learning process.  While I can follow directions,  I prefer to say "what if I......instead?"  One playful experiment leads to another. 

Here are a number of mildly successful pieces.

The idea is to get interesting papers that I can use in collage.  However if a print is 

truly a success, I may mount it onto a canvas as a one off print. 

Here are three that are great successes for what I was trying. I don't think they are

so great that I will mount them on canvas. It was all play. 

A floral stencil was used on each of these. I can see any of them being used as 

a focal point in a collage. 

What are you playing with in your art space?

Linking to Sunday in the Art Room

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Gelli Print Transfer

There has been a Gelli Plate in my stash for years.  I have played with it a lot, but not had a lot of success.   Many folks show lovely things they create with the plate.  Having seen these and some image transfers other folks have done has been a bit frustrating.  

Today I watched a YouTube video showing how one user does an inkjet printer transfer.  I had heard that this was impossible. Most transfers are done with glossy magazines or laser prints. 

After watching it,  I looked in my printer paper stash - because she said you need a specific brand of glossy business paper. None in my stash of course.   But there were some inkjet transparencies.  So I tried one - complete failure.   If at first.......

I found a variety pack of papers that came as a bonus  with purchase from HP. There was some glossy brochure paper in there.  Using the PDF I had created with three images (the one that failed on the transparency) it was time to print again.    This print was cut into three pieces to separate the images. 

First try - OMG!

Pretty darn good, I say. 

I do see that my Gelli plate is showing some wear, but the image transferred!

Next - eh, not as good.  I think paint choice matters also.

And last, yet a different image and a different paint. 

Oops too much paint - it needs to be a thin layer.  
I pulled it once -fail,  but that got a lot of the paint off.

Using a rubber tipped tool, I carved some lines in above and below.

Here is that pulled print.

Not perfect, but it certainly worked. 

Linking to Sunday in the Art Room

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

FFO Mishmash

This has been an interesting week.  Caregiving is not for the weak/timid soul.  It is a paradox of both rough and rewarding.   It also takes a lot of time.  Hence, I have nothing new to share.  But, I did find that Mom had kept an old drawing that I had forgotten doing.  The paper is showing some age - yellowing and brown spots.  It is signed "E B" - which means it was done years ago. ("E" for Eugene) 

Now here is a photo of me and a couple of other guys, backstage when I was doing a play.

The Play was "Anything Goes"  I was a passenger and these guys were crew on the ship.

And from travel, here is a photo I took in a museum in Mexico

Happy Friday

Linking to the Friday Face Off

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.