Shifting into Digital Mode

As I was setting up my new site and selecting images to include (which I am still slowly adding!) I realized how long it had been since I’d created any art using digital tools. Shortly after my son showed me his sweet new tablet with pen and I was drooling. Fast forward a month or two and I’ve jumped in with both feet, purchasing a new tablet to replace the almost nine year old one…along with one of the fancy pens. Of course an art app and some downloads to beef it up came along in the process! I’ve been creating off & on for probably a month now and really enjoying being able to be creative while I’m in the house, not just while I’m in the studio. I’ve created several landscape style pieces, lots of abstract art in different shapes and sizes and even some faces, which I’ve affectionately been referring to as my “Hippee Chicks” as they all have a very Boho vibe. I’m adding a few samples below, which one(s) are your favorites?

A very early landscape piece, currently untitled

“Full Moon Rising” digital landscape

early abstract work, currently untitled

“Playful Thoughts” abstract digital painting

“Hippee Chick” #1, Digital Portrait

Many of the newer pieces have been added to my print store online and can be ordered as photo prints, fine art prints, metal prints, canvas prints, prints on wood or acrylic prints. I am more than a bit haphazard about posting here on the blog but I do send out weekly newsletters to keep my art-loving friends in the loop about upcoming events, special offers and new creative pursuits. While you are visiting my site would you take a moment to join my newsletter list ( there’s a link at the bottom of every page)? I’d appreciate it!

I hope you have been able to spend time creatively too! I’d love to hear about what you like to create – it’s inspiring! Thanks for reading…I’ll pop back on when I can. Love & blessings….

Your randomly creative artist friend, Lynne

Last two gelatin prints

"landscape #5" gelatin print, marker on paper (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

After completing the last group of gelatin prints I posted I did one more set, this set using a few brighter colors. I finished with two landscape images that I was very please with. I hope to have time in the studio soon to work on more prints but my schedule seems overwhelmed with demands lately. I hate when that happens! In the meantime, enjoy these two prints until I can get back to making more.

"landscape #6" gelatin print, marker, watercolor on paper (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

Lynne

More gelatin prints

"landscape #3" gelatin print, charcoal, pencil (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

In my last post I showed some new images I’d made using a gelatin plate to make monoprints with.  Today I’m going to show you the other half of the process, these are called “ghost” prints. After each layer of the original prints were made there was still a nice amount of color left on the plate so I lined up two additional prints and used the excess paint for their color. The result is always a lighter print that the original but sometimes that ends up being more pleasing than the darker first print!

layer #1, gelatin "ghost" prints (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

multiple layers, gelatin "ghost" prints (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

These are the prints that I added charcoal to during the process – some of which stuck to the plate and was transfered to the original prints.

charcoal added to "ghost" prints (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

charcoal transfered to gelatin plate (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

final layers of gelatin "ghost" prints (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

As you can see, the image on the left was printed backwards during one of the blue layers, a disadvantage of manually placing them vs. the originals that are taped in place. But, not to fear, with a mat added to the image (top of the page) all is not lost! This last print ended up being my favorite:

"landscape #4" gelatin print, charcoal, marker (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

One thing I really like about it is the “happy accident” with the run of blue at the bottom of the image. That’s the joy of this technique – going where the flow takes you!  More prints to share next week, until then…

Go with the flow!

Lynne

Playing with Gelatin!

"landscape #1" gelatin print, charcoal, pencil (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

Yes, it’s true…I was told not to play with my food as a child but, evidently, I just never took the rule to heart! 🙂 Today I’m going to show you the first of several new printmaking projects made using gelatin as a printing plate.  This is a fun way to explore printmaking without having to use a press. The plate is basically just a 1/4 to 1/2″ deep slab of thick gelatin. Although fairly durable it can develop cracks and other imperfections – you can either embrace them and use them within your art or move to the next plate if you are wanting a mostly smooth, blemish free surface. I divided my sheet into two different plates and placed them on a large piece of plexiglass so I could make slightly smaller prints (around 8×12″ each) instead of large ones. Once that is set up I tape my printing paper in place in one side so that I can flip it over to print and reprint in the same place with each layer.

gelatin plates/paper, ready to print (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

gelatin plates, first layer of color on plate (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

first layer of print (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

I used very thin layers of colors for this project so that I could build up the color gradually and manipulate darker & lighter areas.

gelatin print, after 4-5 layers of color (c) Lynne Medsker

I was also working on some “shadow” prints at the same time (using the leftover color on the plate after the first printing). I took some charcoal and added details to the shadow prints, when I printed them again some of the charcoal left it’s mark on the plates. I left it there, added more color and transfered it to these two prints. (I will show you the shadow prints in my next post!)

gelatin prints, charcoal on plates (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

gelatin prints, final print layer (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

After adding the last layer of color and letting the prints dry I went back in to both of them and added more lines. The images at the top of the page had pencil added to it, this one I used a fine line marker:

"landscape #2" gelatin print, charcoal, marker (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

It has been a while since I’ve done any printmaking projects and these are a departure from the style of the previous ones. It’s always fun to see where my art takes me!
Going with the flow…

Lynne

Now What?

"landscape #3" printmaking, charcoal, pencil (c) 2010, Lynne Medsker

If you’ve read this blog much you know I’m always up to something new…from new color combinations to totally different techniques or mediums, I like to change things up! Last week during my studio time I wandered back into printmaking for a while and had a lot of fun reacquainting myself with it and experimenting.  I’ve got lots of photos to show the processes and outcomes but for today I’m just going to tease you with one of the finished images. Check back later this week for more…

Lynne