Pushing the snowdrops

Following on from last week on this post I will be showing how I used the Gelpress plate with lino to produce more prints in a different way and also how to use water soluble crayons too.

I like to push an idea and take it further and this is not exception.

I line up my materials:-
Mangle, Gelpress plate, Lino block, acrylic paints, water soluble crayons and oil pastels, baby wipes, paper and water spray

Now Im ready to go.....

Watch the VIDEO here

FIrst the Gelpress plate.

I chose my colours.  Dark and light blue and a green and rolled out a thin layer and pressed the lino block into the wet paint

Apply even pressure to ensure that all the surfaces have taken the paint

I then put the block onto the press (converted from an old mangle - see previous post with video) and placed the paper over the top and covered with card and cloth and ran it through the press.  You can of course hand burnish the prints or use a wooden spoon too

The prints always come out nice and crisp and depending on where you place your colours always very unique and interesting.

I repeat the process.

I also use pre printed mono prints to print on creating another very different look.  In this case very soft and romantic.

This way the lino block will almost have a never ending life (Be aware though that Lino does have a life and will eventually crumble)

Watch the VIDEO here

You can of course pull many prints off the gel plate directly having pressed the lino block into the paint.  This gives yet another look that can be worked on later.

Next I use water soluble crayons and water-soluble oil pastels (yes a weird concept but they do exist).  These I love as they are so easy to use and they blend well together too

Water soluble pencils both the regular kind or Inktense are another alternative and the results are more permanent as the Inktense are ink based.  All these work beautifully  and create yet another look

I rub the colours that I want onto the block, in this case taking care of choosing colours to match the subject.

I then lightly spritz with water and lay the block on the press.  The water loosens the pigment which then transfers to the paper.  You can also play with spraying the paper with water.  Cover with paper and card and cloth and card again and roll through the mangle.

I result is more subtle than the acrylic but effective none the less and this can be altered depending on the amount of pigment you put on the block.  The paper can also be a major factor in changing the look of the print.

Practice and push the  limits and see what you can come up with.

This little one I printed directly into a sketch book...works perfectly and can be enhanced later if I want to.                                                                          
                                                                                                    Watch the VIDEO here

I haven't finished with the lino block yet...so watch this space for the last part

Bix x

See previous post for Lino Snowdrops Part 1 including another full video