Poking around YouTube, I found an artist making cool stuff. And then, because algorithm, I found other artists using the same mediums he was – the gel plate. Most were using the commercially-available gel plates, but I feel like spending the money for something that I might not enjoy using doesn’t math.
But, as is the way of so many commercially-available art supplies, they’re easily made at home, and so I did!
My plate ended up about 8”x9”. For about $15. Versus the $30-50 for the commercial version. And, if mine is messed up or in need of refresh, I can just melt the thing down and start over.
I’ve got a lot of in-progress pieces today – not much I want to share yet. But I’m getting ALL SORTS of ideas.
I don’t make resolutions, really, but if I did, my resolution this year would be to do a little bit of art every day. Some days will be more than others, but at least a little bit.
So here’s to a 2026 filled with art!
[insert some pithy quote or important call to action here.]
First: I’ve not been printmaking long. The local Art Thrift Store (not its real name) had some super cheap lino and a couple of tools, and I’d been wanting to try it out for aaaaages. So, for about $15, I came home with a few reasonably-sized scraps of battleship gray linoleum, two gouges, and a roller. Haunting the Art Thrift Store on multiple occasions expanded my toolkit to include a few pieces of carbon paper and a half-used tube of waterbased speedball block print ink.
I was impressed with everything but the ink; a series of watching youtube videos and web searching to find out how to make it better, and the ultimate response was, “Use oil-based ink for better results.”
So, yesterday, I used oil-based ink (Gamblin Portland Intense Black) for the first time. SO MUCH LEARNING AND SO MUCH TO LEARN.
I hope you had a marvelous holiday this month, whichever one(s) you celebrate. Ours was quiet, but good.
Started on the replacement carving – this one will say “a better world is possible” – and it’s a slow process, both because my wrist can only do so much carving at once; and also, because I’ve been a bit busy.
Today, I tried something new, inspired by a random YouTube video. I can think of all sorts of things to do with these boxes. They were quick to make, and fun to paint – I look forward to improving my painting skills.
[insert some pithy quote or important call to action here.]
Found out today that my hand – which went through carpel tunnel release back in August – still isn’t up to lino carving full time. I’m bummed about that. So, a story:
I put a bunch of time and effort into a carving that had text on it. I’m not particularly experienced with printmaking, and the text was small enough that it involved some fine carving-out of the space in the center. I worked for days getting it all carved – was super proud of myself. The lines were looking clean, and I ran a test print to see if I needed any adjusting.
a better worlb is possible.
I got the design transferred to a new block today.
[insert some pithy quote or important call to action here.]
We got holiday money from my partner’s mom and my dad, so I spent more at the Local Art Supply than I probably should have. One of the things was a set of pencils – six different hardnesses. Not a huge set, but it gives me a chance to figure out shading and texturing. Also picked up some blending stumps. And some colored pencils. And some print stuff.
Also went to the Art Thrift Store. Somehow got lucky enough to find a huge square of lino for like $2, and a smaller chunk for $1. Both had drawing on it, but not cut into, so very easy to ignore what’s there. I’m so stoked! And an upgraded brayer and baren! Such a great haul today.
Here’s my first doodle with my new pencils. A little lumpy, a little off-center – not entirely unlike my first pottery.
[insert some pithy quote or important call to action here.]
One thing I used to do is take photos. I was fair at it – one of my college photography teachers said that I had good “stock photo” eye. I think he was saying my style was too commercial or something. I don’t know; when I asked what he meant, he didn’t answer me straight. I took another photography class – photographic lighting – and that professor said that I had a good eye for color, but just needed to work a bit on composition. At least it was useful feedback!
