Fingerpaint Monoprints

I got 4 prints from this one fingerpainting, also. I did three on a single long piece of fabric (below).

Fingerpainting on Fabric

I was fortunate to have Parks Reese as my neighbor at the National Folk Festival. He is a Livingston, Montana artist who paints humorous images - often puns involving fish or other wildlife. You can visit his website here.

His mother, Ruth Faison Shaw, is known as the "First Lady of Fingerpainting". She used fingerpainting as a therapeutic technique and patented the formula for fingerpaint and the slick paper used with it. You can learn more about her at this website.

Anyway, Parks had quite a few original fingerpaintings for sale at the Folk Festival. Looking at his fingerpaints, I got a hankering to try to fingerpaint on fabric. After considerable thought, I decided my best bet would be to fingerpaint onto a gelatin plate and make a monoprint onto the fabric.

Here is my first attempt:

I used Pebeo Setacolor Transparent paints in full strength.
You can see the texture from the side of my hand and the swirls I made with my fingers in the detail shot below:

One of the greatest things about Gelatin Plate printing is the fact that you can get more than one print. Each subsequent print will be a little more faint, but that is interesting to look at and exciting to print. You don't really know what it will look like on the fabric so there is an element of surprise that can be addicting.

I was actually able to make 4 prints on fabric of this one - then did a 5th one on paper. Great backgrounds!

Vegetation Prints from a Gelatin Plate

To create interesting prints of plants, I always start by brushing paint over the surface of the gelatin plate. In this instance, I used Setacolor Transparent paint in green and Jacquard Lumiere in bright gold.

The plant is then placed onto the painted surface in the desired location. This will make the first print. Lay a sheet of fabric or paper over the paint and plant material. Press gently with your hands - moving them around to make sure all exposed paint is transferred. This first print will look like a stencil print - with the plant creating the stencil.

Next, gently lift the plant material away. You will see an intricate imprint from the plant material has been left behind on the gelatin plate. This is the image used to create the second print. After the plants are removed, lay another piece of fabric over the gelatin plate. Smooth it carefully with your hands until you think all available paint has been transferred from the gelatin to the fabric. Then, lift the fabric away and set it aside to dry.

The second print will be a very detailed print of the plant material.

Lya, I think the gelatin sheets can be reconstituted in water in order to make a plate for printing. I am not sure what the proportions should be, but I think you should try a small amount - maybe on a paper plate or something - use half the water you would normally use for edible gelatin. I think that should work. Let me know how it goes if you try it!

Lisa, I do reuse the modeling clay. The soft gelatin can be washed away or it can be left to dry and then the flakes can be discarded.

Gelatin Plate Preparation

It has been a busy summer so far, lots of travel and family distractions (3 month old grandson has been hospitalized multiple times, both daughters who live nearby are moving this month, etc.).
Home for a couple of weeks - I thought it was time to do some Gelatin Plate Printing.

I wanted to make a large plate this time, so I used a 24 x 32" sheet of tempered glass. Not sure where this glass came from . . . something Joe had laying around.
I first created a tightly sealed dam around all 4 edges using modeling clay.
Then, I mixed up my gelatin. It should be a very stiff mixture - 2 Tablespoons of unflavored gelatin to 1 cup of cool water. Carefully stir the gelatin into the water so you don't get lumps. Then, heat until the gelatin dissolves. Cool slightly and pour into your leveled printing surface.

I buy my gelatin in bulk at the health food store.

It takes a few hours for the gelatin to set up - depending on the temperature of the room, etc. You do not need to refrigerate - it will set up at room temp.
A shallow baking pan can also be used as a form for the plate, but I like this process best. You get nice interesting edges when you remove the modeling clay after the gelatin has set up.

These irregular edges give a nice look to a print. I like to print in the center of a piece of fabric that is larger than my plate, leaving a nice white margin around the edges that really sets off the print - sort of like a built in mat board.

Pink Lily

New to my garden this year - this lovely pink Lily.

What a stunning plant!

Mauve Iris

I've never had iris blooming into the month of July before! I just love the muted colors on this one!

Ode to Matisse in Orange

Another in the series is done!

I really love this one!

Again, scraps printed with a hand cut block. Pieced and quilted.

Berkeley Pit in Butte

I've lived in Montana most of my life, but have never seen the Berkeley Pit, where an entire mountain was removed to provide copper for the rest of the world. We paid our $2 and walked down this long tunnel to get to the viewing area.

I guess I never will see the bottom of the pit, nor will anyone . . . the pit is full of mineral laden water. The reddish water is a toxic soup of naturally occurring minerals.

They've started pumping and purifying the water that gets above a certain level.

Apparently the only living organisms include a bacteria that appears to feed on iron and a small amoeba. Both of these are being researched by biologists.

This was an intriguing visit . . . might inspire a quilt of some kind . . .

Saturday at the National Folk Festival

This is the view south and down the hill from the Montana Arts Marketplace Area.

I was fortunate to have Parks Reese, a Livingston artist on one side of my booth. He paints humorous wildlife paintings and lithographs that are really wonderful. He brought in these new benches in which he collaborated with a metal artist. Joe and I really like the one with the cowboy riding the fish. One of the best things about vending is the camaraderie with the other artists. Parks brought up the idea of making a trade - his work for mine . . . we will talk later today and might be lucky enough to bring home a new piece of art!

On the other side, is this wool artist. He brought his spinning wheel and has been demonstrating the entire show. This has attracted a lot of interest. He does wonderful felted wool bags with fabulous handles - need to get some pictures for the next post . . . and I cannot recall the unusual name of his business. . . . will get that in another post, as well.

Just as the heat was getting uncomfortable, clouds rolled into the valley. We never had rain, but the sunset was spectacular!

National Folk Festival

Well, here we are the the 71st National Folk Festival in Butte, Montana.
The event was kicked off last evening.

Since Joe came along to help, there was one slow moment when I was able to slip away to check out the performers at one of the stages.

A Chicago Blues band called Magic Slim and the Teardrops. Excellent!

There was a lot of interest. The booth was very crowded at times. We had a good steady stream of sales.

I haven't blogged much about the paper art I do . . . I added these fun paper covers to these blank sketchbooks. I thought they would be brisk sellers, but no takers last night!

The most interested people were, of course, fellow quilters. Sadly, they are rarely buyers, though. They want to chat and ask how things are done, but they nearly always walk away empty handed.

Feverfew in Bloom

A friend gave me this Feverfew plant from her yard. It is in full bloom right now.

The individual blossoms are about 1" in diameter.

I looked this up online and discovered it is in the chrysanthemum family. I am pretty sure it is a perennial or reseeds itself. It'll be interesting to see what survives the winter here!

Thanks, Alex!

Les Matisse # 2

Another in the series inspired by Matisse's Les Veloures.
I am calling this one Les Matisse #2.

I block printed fabric scraps with printing blocks inspired by Matisse's later works. I used both Jacquard Lumiere and Setacolor Opaque fabric paints for the printing.

Pieced together, and quilted. I like the subtle printing on this one.

White Winged Crossbill

At the Backyard Waterfall

The entertainment at the backyard waterfall continues.

Several White Winged Crossbills have been visiting recently.

They take advantage of the opportunity to get cleaned up!
And to take a drink!