Potato Printing

We got Totally Tubular in the June First Friday Art Club.  Printmaking is a great way to personalize any surface, but cost of materials can be prohibitive.  Using the power of plants, we had cost-effective printing implements and developed new skills along the way.

Potatoes to Print

In order to make prints, an artist needs a block.  Printmaking blocks are usually made of linoleum or wood.  Linoleum is easy to carve, but expensive to supply for a free library class.  We used linoleum block carving tools to learn the proper way to cut a printing block, but took advantage of the soft surface of potatoes to equate as a printing block.

Careful Carving

Considering the sharp edges of these carving tools, careful carving was required.  We discussed the ideas of positive and negative space and how to get each image exactly as it was desired.  This concept is difficult to grasp, but once achieved, the options are endless.

Ready to Print

Once the potatoes were cut and dabbed on a towel to dry off excess moisture, students were ready to print.  We used flour sack towels as our printing surface.  Mother's Day followed this class, so a ready-made gift was achievable.

Color Palette

We used Folk Art Fabric Paints and paper plates as palettes.  Foam sponges were great for evenly applying paint to the potatoes.  It is advised to dab the potato surface with color rather than paint it on.  Just a bit of color will transfer from the potato surface to the printing surface with a little pressure.

Dab and Press

Once colors were chosen, the process was dab and press for each print made on the fabric.  Composition was considered.  Some students worked random prints across their printing surface.  Others chose to create a border.

Random Placement

Borderline Love

After mastering the dab and press method of printing with potatoes, I showed students the option of multi-colored monoprints.  A monoprint uses a regular printing block, but is treated in such a way that only one of it's kind exists.  By painting each segment of the printing block, a unique print is made.

Monoprint

That's a wrap for our Potato Printing session.  Check back in July to see how "Libraries Rock!"  Guest artist, Shannah Warwick of Blckbts, will instruct students on felting rocks.

This is an event you don't want to miss!

Register to Rock here.

Thanks for visiting.

I'll check you on the flipside in July.

xo,

Erica

Acrylic Cats with Filomena Jack

Rainbows of Color

Southeast Steuben County Library's First Friday Art Club encountered acrylic paints, canvas panels, brushes, and a rainbow of color with Filomena Jack in February.

Welcome to Class

Class started with Filomena's introduction to color theory and the color wheel.  Students needed to know how to mix colors to achieve their preferred palette.  Then instruction proceeded to creating whimsical cats.

Start with an inverted Triangle

Using simple shapes and limited rules, students created their feline's features.  Designs were whipped out quickly with this easy-to-follow tutorial.  Once the cats were on the canvas boards, it was time to paint the base color.

This Kitty has the Blues

Painting the base color of the cat body let each personality shine.  Some folks liked lots of colors, while some chose monochromatic schemes.  "This kitty has the blues," my neighboring student mentioned. 

Not just for Cats

Let's admit that cats are not for everyone.  Some of us love bunnies more; Filomena can attest to that!

Meoowwww!

Once the cat's body was painted, the background needed color, then it was on to facial features.

Grumpy Cat

We saw grumpy kitties, happy cats, scaredy cats, and kittens with attitude arise from their creator's brushes.

Content Kitty

Class time passed quickly, but each student left with a complete painting.  Great work to our students, and BRAVO to our instructor!

Pro-Kitty

Can you tell  who created this cool cat!  We obviously have lots to learn from the master.

Printmaking with Organics

Visit us in March to see what beautiful marks we make after Printing with Potatoes.  It's an easy and inexpensive form of printmaking.  Tell me if you've make marks with organic matter.

See you next time!

~Erica