Surface Design/Printmaking/Painting

Not much studio time lately, but grabbing some whenever I can. Cleopatra is on the frame being quilted; my compass wholecloth is being marked; two piecing and applique projects are in various stages.

Also, I'm working on a canvas.  8"x24"...primed. I'm printing, sponging, and painting.

Have you ever made your own printing plates?  I use a variety, gelli plates, hand carved lino plates and stamps and I often make printing plates from scratch foam.  It's quick and easy and very effective on paper, fabric and even stretched canvas.  Stretched canvas is what I'm sharing today.

First you need to draw your design on the foam.  Now, you can use recycled meat trays, but my medical background cringes at that...how do I know I got off all those nasty meat germs?  So I buy my mine...from Joggles or DickBlick.  Then just draw your design...I use a stylus designed for scapbooking, but you can use a pencil or pen.

Here are 2 of the many designs I have drawn

Simply use a brayer to add the paint to your printing plate.  In this example, I used Golden Acrylic paint, mixed with an equal amount of Glazing liquid...it does not lighten the paint...merely extends the working time. I applied it with a hard rubber brayer.
The first photo is a print I pulled on regular copy paper to test.

These foam printing plates can be used over and over again...just wash them with soap and water.

Then I re-applied the paint to the plate and printed my canvas.  I had already added the background color and allowed it to dry.

Now, you can see the lines created by the edges of my plate. I'm not concerned about that because I will be adding additional layers that will blend it.  If you want to minimize that effect...simply wipe the excess paint from the edges of your plate before printing.

After my printed canvas dries, I then sponge on additional colors.

Keep in mind, many thin layers work best.  After this dries, I use Titanium white Gesso to prime (rough in) my main motifs here...

And here.

Now it's waiting for me to have the time to add the details.

Happy 4th to you all!