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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Eco Prints on Paper II

Well, I'm off again, seeking new adventure on paper.  My latest inspiration came to me while making spachetti sauce.  I was sprinkling Italian Seasoning into the pot when I though "What if" I did something like this only prints?  Not daunted by much, I set my sauce to simmer, got out some broken leaves and other plant materials, a ziplock bag and a rolling pin.  I place the materials in the Ziplock bag and crushed them with the rolling pin.  Then I place them in an empty shaker bottle.  I set some printmaking paper to soak in a pot of alum mordant I had prepared for cloth, and gathered dried leaves, berries, some rusty wire from a burned automobile tire and my trusty rice cooker.  After soaking my papers, I began so stack paper, leaves, sprinkles of plant material, etc. until I had a nice stack.  I placed the stack in my rice cooker and added 3 cups of a fern root and bladder extract.  I steamed for 1.5 hrs. and left in the pot covered overnight.  The attached photos will show the final results.  I was glad to discover that you could use more than watercolor paper to make prints.
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5 comments:

  1. J.G.NieuwenhofMarch 2, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    Hi, As I am a Printmaker, I find this information very exciting. Would love to be able to see the prints on paper close up. Really nice blog. Jen (Australia)

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  2. Dip and StainMarch 2, 2012 at 2:50 PM

    Thanks, Jen. I wish there were an enlarging feature on the blog, but unfortunately there is not.Are you on Facebook? If you are, then I can "Friend" you and you will be able to see my albums that do have an enlarging feature built in. It is still not the same as seeing a print in person. This type of monoprint offers many possibilities. I am going to try them as mixed media, along with woodcut blocks or maybe even linocuts. I am interested in what happens when the same block is printed over many different background prints. Does it tell a different story? I have already used stitching as a means of enhancing the monoprint and I like the result. would like to make monnoprints using all the same vegetative materials and work them into a book with different surface enhancements for each page. There are many possibilities open to me. Please keep in touch and feel free to use any of the techniques mentioned on this blog. Enjoy your journey.

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  3. J.G.NieuwenhofMarch 14, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    https://www.facebook.com/jgnieuwenhof

    Thanks for replying. It would be great if you could friend me on facebook.

    Your work is experimental and that is exciting to me. Love the idea of working in this free wheeling manner.

    Jen

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  4. AnnieAugust 29, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    Great Blog. I have also been experimenting with different plants and papers.I found Arches Water Colour paper the best. I am a printmaker mainly doing solar prints as I don't like to use chemicals at home with children. Thank you for sharing, Annie (australia)

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  5. Dip and StainAugust 29, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    Thank you, Annie. I like Arches and Strathmore watercolor papers, 140# and 300#. They are strong enough to steam and simmer. Using pot as mordant and high tannin content of plant materials, you can achieve some spectacular results without chemicals. In a non reactive metal pot (stainless steel) you may still include piece of rusty metal along with your plant materials and create unique marks. It is a thrilling experience. Stop back anytime, I welcome an exchange of information and techniques.

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