For my first blog post, I’m going to show my experience using printmaking techniques for the first time.
Materials:
Starting out, I researched the ideal materials. The most basic materials include a printing plate, rubber brayer, and some paint/ink. The most commonly recommended printing plate is the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate, however, it can be quite costly. Instead, I settled for a 99 cent acrylic sheet which served its purpose. For rubber brayers, I purchased a Speedball Pop-in Soft Rubber Brayer for $11 which worked excellently and was very easily cleaned. I also picked up a cheaply foam brayer from Hobby Lobby for $4 as a back-up (this did have very bad reviews online, but I decided to buy in case I may need an extra). Lastly, I attempted to use oil paints(Winsor & Newton) as a substitute for printmaking ink because it was the only paint I had on hand. I mixed the oil paint with refined linseed oil to achieve a thinner texture.
Here’s everything I used:
– Acrylic Sheet
– Rubber Brayer
– Oil Paints
– Refined Linseed Oil
– Oil Painting Paper (Arches)
– Card Stock
– Oil Painting Brush
– old gift card, toothpick, cotton bud (handy for making textures)
Note: Printmaking undoubtedly comes with frustrations in the beginning. But I especially made my experience a difficult one by my unconventional choice of paint. I suggest sticking with traditional printmaking ink or acrylic as a starting point. I have yet to retry this process with either of these.
Remember: If you use oil paint on a wooden surface like I did, cover and protect your surface well. Keep the air well circulated.