My submission to this year's Wingtip Press Leftovers

I just sent off this little linocut dragon to this years Wingtip Press's Leftovers. This has been a great fundraiser for hunger relief and I've participated in it for the past three years.  Do take a look at previous entries.

Two trial proof's are available in the shop.

This image has been floating around in my sketchbook and computer for a little while now and I was happy to finally get it out and onto paper. I cut it into thin lino and printed it with my press. I used to hand-burnish all my linos onto thin paper because they were always mounted on blocks but it's been so much easier to use the press.You can see a short video I did of proofing the print on my press here.

A short video on test-printing a linocut.

Hey everyone. So I tried to rig up my iPad to film a short demo video but I just couldn't get it right. I will eventually figure it out but for now I have this short video I created on my Flip camera instead. I don't like how blurry it is and the captions need work but I think I just need some editing practice.

This video is about how I test my linocut plates before printing. Feel free to comment and share! 

I now have and iPad! How to I attach it to my tri-pod?

So I must've been a good girl last year because I got an iPad for Christmas. I've been having lots of fun trying out all the new apps and games on it and while I've been too afraid to take it out of the house, I have been making good use of it at home.

 The new iPad has a great camera lens on it and while I've already tried my hand at Instagram, I'm pretty excited to think that I have access to a HD video camera to help me create some printmaking videos. But there is a catch. How do I mount my iPad to a tri-pod? I knew I could probably order one but I thought that there might be a way to make one. Thanks to Google you can find anything.

I have two links for you. The first one is a for a video that made me realize that I should use my iPad for video. It's an informative how-to video on creating packing for Canada Post's "slot of doom". Using a Blackberry Playbook, Claire Maunsell  creates a really clear video that I will be sure to visit again.

The next video is by Mike McCormick who actually creates an iPad mount for a tri-pod. While I see no links to any instructions it gave me enough visual info that I think I might try and rig up something similar. Stay tuned to see if I'm successful with this DIY.

What about you? Were you able to rig something up for your iPad? Tell me about it.

My attempt at Kitchen Lithography

There's a new printmaking video that's been going around that's gotten all sorts of printmakers excited. In this video French artist Emilion shows how he's been able to create traditional lithographs with items found around the house.  Calling it "Kitchen Lithography" Emilion uses aluminum foil, vegetable oil, castile soap, and coke to create an impressive edition. The whole process is based on chemistry. I've done something similar using xerox photocopies called paper lithography  but I had to give this a try.

The materials

I copied a couple of images in my sketch book. The one on the left was drawn with a litho crayon and I tried the soap on the right.

Next I poured on the cola. The acid in the coke reacts with the soap and litho crayon and etches the foil.

After wiping off the cola, oil is buffed down onto the plate.

Here are my plates rolled up three times with etching ink. I wiped the plates with a clean wet rag between each roll. You can see than I almost completely lost the other mushroom I did with the soap. Finger prints will easily etch too.

The printed result. I put the plate through my press but the video shows that it is possible to print solely by rubbing with the back of a spoon.

Close-up. You can see the wrinkles of the aluminum foil and I couldn't seem to "clean" my white spaces fully.

I hope you enjoyed this photo essay of this process and if you give it a try yourself, I would love to see your results. As for me, I think this technique has great potential if I'm willing to work out the kinks. Maybe a heavier foil would print cleaner? 

I do love the fact that it's another printmaking process that I can do at home for very little money. I had to laugh when a viewer commented that they were feeling ill to have spent twenty-thousand on their art tuition. Me too.  It's all  been in our cupboards!