i've been carving up some new blocks and playing around with colours on my mom's kitchen table for the odd hour or two. the big block with the spotted dots didn't really work out to well, i couldn't get decent stamping from such a large block, even with placing a book over top to try press it down evenly. i ended up trimming a few of the circles out to use on their own and will use the back of the rest to carve something else, one big benefit of using this thick ez carve stuff. one downfall though is that i've discovered the blocks don't hold up too well to repeated use, especially if they are carved with relatively thin lines, the block is just too soft. i'm going to try some different blocks and linos when i get home, might even hit an art store here in canada to see what i can find but i am running out of days!
funny that the latest stamp i'm happiest with was completely unplanned, i just carved out a circle and then cut some lines through it (last image shown). and i like the way some of the carving lines are showing up (on the pink prints in the second last photo and a little bit in the last photo), i cut the background out much shallower than i had before. i like it but others may not - what do you think? too rustic with the random carve lines?
This is so neat! You could make your own fabric to use for clothes for your girls and no-one else would have it! Love what you're doing, especially the clouds.
ReplyDeleteThey are fantastic - love the clouds.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I love the most about stamps is the random and the rustic. I think it is ALL working fabulously.
ReplyDeleteSo great! I really like them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
love the rustic - and the pink and green one just above. The colours are glorious - what are you using?
ReplyDeletethanks, everyone!
ReplyDeletesusan, i got a whole bunch of different shades (like, 30) of the setacolor transparent fabric paint marked down to 50¢ at my local spotlight and i've been mixing them together and with black and white speedball screen printing paint. makes it pretty much impossible to exactly recreate a colour but i like playing.
Absolutely beautiful, I love the clouds and those last circles are just stunning!
ReplyDeleteI too love them all. My favourite are the feathers. Love them. I also like the rustic circles. In fact, they're all pretty gorgeous. I'd buy them - but the feathers first. x
ReplyDeleteNo I think they're great. The random carve lines are my favorite too. Love what happens when you don't try too hard...
ReplyDeleteOne word: BRILLIANT! all. ( ok, these were actually two words)
ReplyDeletelove them all!
nice greetings
Marit
Wow! Just gorgeous :D
ReplyDeletei like them a lot !! . . which material you use to carve up ?? . . i only know linoleum . .
ReplyDeleteFantastic work. Love it all, especially those clouds. :)
ReplyDeleteThey all look amazing. I particularly like the clouds. And the feathers are beautiful, too.
ReplyDeleteaw, you guys are just so darn nice!! thanks for all your kind words. x
ReplyDeleteale, i've been using a soft rubber block called ezy carve. it's really easy to cut but a bit hard to get really detailed with and doesn't hold up well to washing and repeated use. there are a couple of different types of lino at my local art shop and i've seen a speedball version of ezy carve here in canada. i want to try an actual woodblock, too but need to research whether or not i'd need different tools. so much to try...
They all look great, but the circle with the lines is my favourite too.
ReplyDeleteThey look great Leslie. The designs you are carving look really unique. The round shapes are my favorites.
ReplyDeletethey all look fantastic! what kind of paint do you use? i am having trouble with the paint applying evenly to the fabric from the block. i can't decide whether that makes it look interesting or like i don't know what i'm doing ;)
ReplyDeleterachael, i've been using setacolor transparent mixed with speedball or permaset screenprinting ink. i think the trick, really, is to use a foam brush to dab an even layer of paint/ink on the block rather than use a brayer. you'll still get the imperfections that make hand printing so unique but you'll get more consistent results. hope this helps!
ReplyDelete