I’m getting a little ahead of myself. It’s only the 20th and here I am posting cards 15-22 of the 31 Postcards in 31 Days project.
After using my silk screens for week 2 of the 31 Postcards in 31 days, and then buying new drawing fluid that actually worked I wanted to keep going. This week after being inspired by the translucent look of washi tape I decided to do another series of silk screen postcards. I used my new screen and made little simple lines and shapes. Then I REALLY diluted my inks with translucent base to get the look I was going for. I’m really pleased with the outcome and will probably try more printing like this in the future. I think I might make more little screens as well, so I don’t have to wash it out as often, and I can keep certain patterns.
The print part has a more dappled texture than what I was aiming for. Unlike normal paper one would print on, these old pictures have a glossy finish, so instead of the ink soaking into the paper it just lays on top and sticks together.
Also, I just realized none of these pictures have my signature “place stamp here” stickers on them yet.
It kind of makes me laugh thinking about having this (or possibly more) super tiny screen. When I was college my serigraphy teacher was continually trying to make me go bigger, Bigger, BIGGER! Yet I grabbed and used the smallest frame I could find. Later when we had to build our own she insisted that I build a huge screen. I have it still but never use it. Instead I use the smaller ones I’ve built myself.
One last thing before I sign off for the weekend. Today is is the NaDa Farm Sale from 9-12. I’m not selling this time, I was just too busy, but I did go last night to shop. If you live in the northern Illinois area you should check it out. It’s $5 to get in. Pictured above is just one room from the sale, but there are 3 more rooms full of vendors and also plenty of booths outside as well, including Anne from abeautifulparty, who I got to meet for the first time.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I have finished another week of mailart postcards for 31 Postcards in 31 Days. I also finally finished addressing and writing the first week’s postcards and dropped them at the post office this weekend.
Postcards 7-14
These postcards are the result of my silk screening attempt, or should I say 3 attempts. Since then I have purchased a new bottle of drawing fluid and Tada, everything worked out perfectly. I tested out a little sample sketch and I only had to do one coat of the drawing fluid and the lines stayed crisp and didn’t dilute during the screen filler application. These postcards are still based on that former screen I did.
Below are a few details
I have had a few ideas here and there for next weeks postcards, but nothing really set in stone yet. We will see what I come up with.
Hooray, the screen cleaned out, but the edges are super fuzzy as you can see. So, better, but still not great. I’m blaming the drawing fluid and will buy some new. I think the drawing fluid was too old, too thin, or a combination of both. I was able to pull a bunch of prints that I will use for my 31 Postcards in 31 Days project. Since each postcard will be different but based on the same print I’m not going to post each one individually, but share them all together in one post closer to the end of the week. I plan on doing some with watercolor, some colored pencil and some chine colle, and who know what else.
The print was based on this pattern I drew in my little staple scrap book. I was originally trying to come up with a floral pattern that was different than your typical floral pattern. I still really like the pattern and after this week might play around with it on the computer some, using the Heather Ross Prints book I recently got. Funny sidenote, I drew my pattern first before getting the book, but when going through Heather Ross Prints, she too has a lily of the valley print, but it looks very different (below).
Postcard 5. Not a big leap, since I have a thing for Grass and Stars after all.
Day 5, a little different. Instead of space we have grass.
I’m going for a 3rd attempt at the silk screen this weekend. Doing prints should be much quicker for next week.
Have a good weekend!
This morning I woke up at 5 am and couldn’t fall back to sleep. Instead I got up and actually started painting my mailart postcard for the day. It was such a nice start to the day. I was in such a good mood in the morning. I’d love to say that I should begin each morning this way, but I also know I’m one to love to sleep in. I know the moment I’d make such a commitment I would not be able to climb out of bed until 7:30 to be at work by 8. In an ideal world…
The top picture was an iphone macro lens shot of the painting this morning. Bright and cheerful.
This is the finished piece. Day 4 of 31 Postcards in 31 days.
For over 200 more pieces of mailart I’ve created, see my flickr photo set here.
Day 3 of 31 Postcards in 31 Days. It’s been such a busy week. Every day this week I finish my postcard and then fall into bed and sleep like a brick.
Is anyone else participating in #31Postcards?
Day 2 of 31 Postcards in 31 Days.
Well, it probably goes without saying, attempt 2 of my little silk screen didn’t work either.
I bought a couple of new books today, and wish I could just stay up all night reading them.
Book one is Heather Ross Prints. I read a review on Creature Comforts and picked it up after work at Barnes and Noble. I wanted to get it based on my interest in making my own patterns to be printed at Spoonflower, but while flipping pages I realized Heather is a designer who’s fabrics I’d already purchased (mushrooms, goldfish, bicycles, and gnomes).
The Second book I bought was Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn . It’s been on my amazon wishlist for a while, but finally leafing through it at the bookstore I decided to buy after seeing 3 different prompts that I really wanted to try.
I also wanted to buy the Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman (I’ve been a long fan of his) reviewed here, but they didn’t have it at the bookstore. I will definitely add it to my amazon wishlist.
I can’t wait to read more of these books.
You may notice that this is not a screen print of my lily of the valley pattern.
The print was not a success. I am kicking myself for how much time I spent drawing that pattern on the silk (probably another hour or two after I took that picture yesterday). Then when I went to apply the screen filler I did this stupid thing that I have done more times than I’d like to admit. I think to myself, why draw up the fluid with a straight edge? Why not just apply it with a brush? It isn’t until I’m halfway through that I remember why. The drawing fluid is water soluble, so if the filler isn’t drawn thin and quick it causes the drawing fluid to start dissolving right into the filler and then you don’t get clear straight lines to wash out. Also, when you use a brush, the filler globs right through the screen, leaving thick areas even if you were able to do it quick enough. Lesson learned…. until next time.
So, in the meantime, I just painted this mailart postcard and I will try again tomorrow.
Count this as day 1 of 31 postcards in 31 Days.
Today is October 1st.
If you are interested, 31 Postcards in 31 Days begins today. I decided I wanted to do some silk screening for my first week of postcards. We will see how it goes. I couldn’t find my smallest frame and just built one on a whim. Hear-Hear to just happening to have extra silk on hand, as well as an inexpensive ikea frame.
AND
The 100 Week begins today as well.
Also, happy side note: I think I’ve recovered the resin pieces that flopped last week. I spent a good chunk of time on them yesterday was able to melt off the old, bad resin and replace it with a fresh (correctly mixed) batch. HOORAY!
