Gelatin plate monotype prints Toner Wash Transfers “Tusche Wash” using toner

 

Hi these are some quick test transfers (so please don’t judge the quality of the art also I don’t have much experience with gel prints so my pulls aren’t so great) on a homemade gel plate. With these I was trying to sort of duplicate the tusche wash/reticulation you get in lithography. So these are toner washes (look up Nick Semenoff for more information) I did on the NON printing side of grafix Inkjet transparency for some reason the watery washes don’t bead up. Wait for it to dry… at this point it is very powdery like charcoal then I laid it on the gel plate just like a charcoal transfer. I found that if I pulled with a color/white it didn’t work as well as when I rolled GAC100 (which is the only clear acrylic I have on hand) on waited for that to dry then rolled plate with white then pulled the print. For those of you who don’t want to mess around with toner powder (which is pretty bad for you if you inhale the powder so precautions are needed!) I have had some promising results with charcoal powder mixed with a little jet wash or dawn dish soap then mixed with water to get washes they just don’t reticulate as much. The last image I painted my toner wash onto some epson presentation paper and transferred same as above it didn’t reticulate as much but I might have lost some detail because I pulled with white paint and didn’t isolate with GAC100 first.

waterless lithography from paper plate “ subway dog”

 

Mokulito Subway Dog

 Waterless Mokulito 

Waterless lithography on paper plate

 This is the other paper plate I did that day I coated this one with two layers of shellac I still had paper come through so I probably scrubbed too hard trying to remove image especially with the Omni chrome.  good news is cheap dollar store prang paint washed out easily and printed strong. The coolest tonal “washes” came by laying down omnichrome then brushing denatured alcohol on top which partly dissolved the shellac but I don’t know how long it would hold up as I only printed two same as the other example. Though the second print a week later looks pretty much the same. The watercolor with the dip pen also had paper come through at rinse out so I probably scraped through the shellac with the dip pen. I like the blue watercolor spray it was easy to washout and printed nice. The omnichrome seems waxy or oily so it didn’t wash out easily.

Waterless paper lithography

 Paper waterless lithography first pic is the print digitally flipped the second pic is the plate. This is my first attempt/experiment. The blue is cotman watercolor it was old and dried up I might have made it too thin. I coated cardboard with one coat of shellac but that probably wasn’t enough or I was too vigorous trying to washout the water media and the paper was exposed in places.  I only printed one (van son rubber based ink ) and didn’t clean the plate then waited a week and printed another I’ll post it later if anyone is interested. But some of the tones printed darker the second time especially on the dog open areas. The dog was mostly made with Neocolor II crayons wash with water. Mostly a fail but I will keep trying. I’m thinking in the end this process might be better suited to more graphic high contrast images which is still cool but I will try some more tonal experiments.

OMG it’s been awhile…Waterless Paper Lithography

 So I got busy and stop blogging for awhile then I tried to log back in but forgot my password (years ago) and sort of forgot about it again until recently. One night just as I was falling asleep I remember my email address (I used for the blog back then) and the password! So now I’m back after deleting all of the (thousands) spam comments and changing some settings to prevent all that from happening again hopefully. I did start to set up another blog before remembering the password to this one and might still switch over…but for now here’s what I’ve been working on/experimenting with..Lithography. Paper waterless lithography. First picture is the print digitally flipped the second is the plate. It’s mostly a fail but I’ll post details soon I just wanted to see if I remembered how to post.

Anastasia Monotype Hand Pulled Print

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Anastasia 
Monotype with water-based Akua Ink on Kozo paper
one of a kind hand pulled print

Mary, Mary Monotype Hand Pulled Print

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary 
Monotype with graphite on Kozo paper
image size 9X12 inches
paper size 9X12 inches

$50

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2012 Christmas Print Etching

We Like Figgy Pudding Holiday Print
Etching with hand coloring using watercolor
Rives BFK paper
Image: 4X6 inches
Paper size: 5X7 
easily fits into standard size frame
$10

Visit my etsy shop to purchase 

We wish you a Merry Christmas; 
We wish you a Merry Christmas; 
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; 
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; 
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; 
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some; 
We won't go until we get some; 
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas; 
We wish you a Merry Christmas; 
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Pleiades woodblock print

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Pleiades 
paper size: 8X10 inches
image size: 7X9 inches
edition: 100

$30

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Black oilbased ink woodcut on acid free Kozo paper printed by hand by me.
The Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, is a conspicuous object in the night sky and the subject myth and legend in almost every culture on the planet.

Last leaves of Autumn White Line Woodblock Print

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: last leaves of autumn
woodblock print 
image size:9X12
paper size: 11X15 

$75

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I am going to make some more of these i just don't think i like the colors i don't know the sky is too light or something the problem is this on takes forever to print. 

This is a white line or Provincetown woodcut print. I paint each area of color on the woodblock with watercolor then print the block by hand onto heavyweight paper.
Each print using this method will be unique 

Lunar Black Raincloud

Its a rainy day.
Testing some lunar black watercolor from Daniel Smith .  
Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Lunar black raincloud
Size:4.5x8.5 inches
Paper: Rives BFK tan
Media: watercolor and pen and ink
$30
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rainy days and mondays

Ah, its a grey rainbow no blue birds here just rainy days and mondays
also available in brownbow because somedays are just shitty.
Artist: Viza Arlington
Etching, spit bite aquatint on Rives BFK %100 cotton rag paper
image size 4X6 inches
paper size 6X8
edition of 75
$30

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Helen (Original Carborundum Print)

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Helen
Helen is a volcano and a puppy
Carborundum Print on Rives BFK paper
image size 5X6 inches
paper size 6X8
edition:60VE
$30
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Jane (original monotype)

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Jane
Monotype on Rives BFK paper
image size 8X10 inches
paper size 8X10 inches

Ophelia (original hand colored etching)

Ophelia William Shakespeare Hamlet violet flower
Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Ophelia
Etching on Rives BFK paper hand colored with watercolor
image size 4X6 inches
paper size 8X10 inches
edition: 100
$30
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Violets in Dreams and Death
In dreams, violets are positive. For instance, according to folklore, dreaming of violets is a sign that a fortune is coming your way. It is also supposed to mean your future spouse will be your junior. The violet does have a more sobering side, though, in that the flower is associated with death--and resurrection. The symbolism likely springs from antiquity, when a number of myths featured violets in the death of heroes and even an Earth God named Attis. Combining this death symbolism with modesty and maidenhood creates a meaning for violet of death too soon. Shakespeare's tragic Ophelia was linked to violets in "Hamlet."

Bison II (ink bubble drawing)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Bison II
paper size: 22X30 inches
ink bubble drawing with charcoal on acid free Canson Edition paper
$250
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Stag ink bubble drawing

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Stag
paper size: 21X30 inches inches
ink bubble drawing ink wash on acid free Canson edition paper
$250
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Inky Bubble Wolf 18X30 inches

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Inky Wolf
paper size: 18X30 inches inches
$250
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ink bubble drawing ink wash on acid free Canson edition paper
I mixed sumi ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image.

Inky Wolf (original ink drawing)

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Inky Wolf
Ink drawing with watercolor this is a one of a kind drawing
image size 3.5X5.25 inches
paper size 3.5X5.25 inches
Sold

Happy Holidays!

Here is my 2011 holiday print.
Etching with hand coloring using watercolor
Rives BFK paper
Image: 3.5X4 inches

Bison 22X30 (Original Ink Bubble Drawing)

I am not sure if i am done with this one. i might add some charcoal yet.
Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Bison
paper size: 22X30 inches
ink bubble drawing on acid free Canson Edition paper
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image. very very messy but lots of fun. i had to wear sunglasses so you can imagine my face!

Ojo de Dios (original etching)

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: Ojo de Dios (Gods Eye)
Etching
hand colored with watercolor
image size 4 X 6 inches
paper size 8X10
edition size 100
signed and numbered original print
Rives BFK paper
$25
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I and I (original etching)

Artist: VIza Arlington
Title: I toI
Etching
image size 4 X 6 inches
paper size 8X10
edition size 100
signed and numbered original print
Rives BFK paper

Lily of the Valley ACEO (original block print)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Lily of the Valley
paper size: 2.5X3.5 inches
image size: 2.5X3.5 inches
edition: 200
signed and titled on back of print
Hand-colored linoleum block print on cotton rag paper.

Hare an Moon (original mixed media bubble painting)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Hare and Moon
clay board size: 11X14 inches
pencil, oil based ink and pen and ink bubble drawing on Archival and acid-free, Claybord
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image. very very messy but lots of fun. i had to wear sunglasses so you can imagine my face!

Black Sun (original hand-pulled lithograph)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Black Sun
Hand-Pulled Lithograph printed on Rives BFK Buff colored paper archival
image size:5.5X7.5 inches
edition 5
print will be numbered and signed by artist
I used this very cool technique created by French artist Emilion she calls Kitchen Lithographie
http://www.youtube.com/user/emilivideo

Nude (original handpulled lithograph)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Nude
Hand-Pulled Lithograph printed on Rives BFK Buff colored paper archival
image size:5.5X7.5 inches
print will be numbered and signed by artist
I used this very cool technique created by French artist Émilie Brouard she calls Kitchen Lithographie
http://www.youtube.com/user/emilivideo

Fox 18X24 Bubble Drawing

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Fox
paper size: 18X24 inches
charcoal, pen and ink bubble drawing on acid free drawing paper
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image. very very messy but lots of fun. i had to wear sunglasses so you can imagine my face!

Koi and Lily pads

I decided to use this print for the "Inspired by Japan" relief fundraiser. http://www.barenforum.org/fundraiser_project/index.html
each print took about 45 minutes to an hour to print. i printed them on my little etching press w/blankets. each one took 2 to 4 passes. i used Rives BFK paper a mix of 250 and 280 weight. the 280 weight paper seemed to work best because it had less bleeding into the white line areas for some reason.

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Koi
white line woodblock print on Rives BFK
image size:approx. 8X12 inches
paper size 8X12 inches

This is a white line or Provincetown woodcut print. I paint each area of color on the woodblock with watercolor then print the block by hand onto Rives paper. each print is unique. my prints are a bit different from traditional
Provincetown prints because i paint the whole block letting the watercolor dry then when i am ready to print i reconstitute the watercolor with a fine mist from a squirt bottle then print the whole block rather than printing each color one at a time as in traditional white line prints.

Wolf 18X24(original ink bubble drawing)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Wolf
paper size: 18X24 inches
charcoal, pen and ink bubble drawing on acid free drawing paper
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image.

Flying Start 18X24 (original bubble drawing)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Flying Start
paper size: 18X24 inches
charcoal, pen and ink bubble drawing on acid free drawing paper
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image. very very messy but lots of fun. i had to wear sunglasses so you can imagine my face!

Hart 18X24 (original bubble drawing)

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Hart
paper size: 18X24 inches
ink bubble drawing on cotton rag Rives BFK paper
I mixed india ink with water and dish soap and blow bubbles to make this image.

Amalthea exchange 48

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Amalthea
Amalthea is the goat nymph who raised/nursed Zeus at Mt. Ida in Crete and hid him from his father Cronus the Titan who had a bad habit of eating his children.
woodcut oil based ink on archival Rives BFK paper bleed print (image is printed to edges of paper),
image size: 8X10 inches
Paper size: 8X10
edition: 100

Moon and Sea III

I wanted to do a white line version of this motif. in this version i focused on geometry. i used the golden mean for the overall dimensions and in the placement of the moon. i also made a vesica pisces and used that to construct a template for the waves. there is more but it is probably boring so i will leave it at that. water based media makes me crazy! the things i love about it are totally unique to it and the things i hate about it are as well. i had some stretch and registration issues as usual but the overall look of the print is pleasing to me after my initial horror wore off but i will probably try it in oil based inks as well.

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Moon and Sea III
white line woodcut print on Rives BFK
image size: 18X30 inches
paper size 18X30 inches

Bamboo Forest

this photo looks a bit fish eyed to me

Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Bamboo Forest
paper size: 37X61 inches
image size: 36X60 inches (3'X5')
edition: Monoprint each print is unique
wood used: cherry plywood one block
paper: Mulberry
oil based printing ink
this was printed by me by hand

Exchange 47 moku hanga woodcut

I decided to abandon my original design and went with this peaceful easy one because i didn't want to stress out like i usually do when i print moku hanga. I loosely copied my image (the outline of the image area a circle and a line at the top of the wave area) onto all five blocks. i carved wavy shapes and hoped they would overlap in an interesting way and did the same with the moon. The lauan is a pain to carve but this design is pretty forgiving and the texture of the lauan hides many flaws in printing.
Artist: Viza Arlington
Title: Moon and Sea
paper size: 6X13 inches
image size: 5X12 inches
edition: 100 VE
wood used: Lauan
Five blocks seven or eight passes

Bamboo Forest Finished

I am done! tomorrow i will hang it up and take some proper photos, clean up and put my dinning room back together. i already don't hate it. i did a little work Monday then didn't do anymore until today. the time away was good i used stencils and a roller and things went much faster. i was really locked into the white line painting frame of mind but the image really lends its self to rolling the ink and with a little stenciling things went much faster. when i do this one again i could probably get it done in at least half and maybe even a third of the time. i will print one in black before i put up the block and i will use the black print in the same way that i did the gold and silver falls but i might add some copper leaf as well.

Friday meltdown Monday back to work

I am really starting to hate this print. I had a meltdown friday after working on it for a week straight 8 to 14 hour days. so i took saturday and sunday off and now i am back to it. it is taking forever to print. it is so tedious and the size alone just makes it horrible. hopefully i wont totally screw it up in the next few days i think it will take me to finish. then maybe after it dries which will probably take a while i might start to like it again. i just want it OUT of my dinning room! maybe i will title it marvin k. mooney right now i am calling it bamboohoo. oh and that is quarter in the picture for scale.

3'X5' Bamboo Forest print progress

as you can see in my last pic my paper flipping method is very low tech a long stick. it works okay but it has caused a few crinkles here and there but i have decided not to let it bother me and to try and think of them as part of the "charm". It has taken me six days to get this far. Two days transferring the image and redrawing/making corrections on the block, one long day carving and this will be my third day printing. I expect to be at least halfway through the printing by the end of today.
The paper is a mulberry and i am glad i had it laying around because i probably would have went with a roll of Rives BFK and printing is already hard enough i didn't need the extra thickness. Sometimes i wonder why bother with all this why not just make a painting? I do like they way they look and i don't think i could duplicate it in a painting so i guess that is reason enough.
i also don't have representation so i don't really think i will be selling many if any of these so why go through the bother of multiple blocks to make an edition if they will just be rolled up in my closet. well these are my excuses for using such an inefficient form of printmaking anyway. I am using oil based relief inks with a drop or two of burnt plate oil. i have used a small roller a little but most has been done with stiff hog bristle bushes. i use them more like dobbers then brushes most of the time. i do like the richness of the oil inks and they blend nice but i really need to look into getting some Akua Kolor because clean up sucks. Also i am short so when i get more towards the middle of the block things will even be harder. I think i will be done in three days if all goes well.