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How I created an at-home printmaking press!
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items After a lot of research, I figured out how to make an at-home printmaking press for my watercolor monotypes and you can too! Here's everything I purchased to get started.
Sections
5
Paper
Supplies
Paints
Press
My paintings
Paper
I like to use BFK Rives printmaking paper for my monotypes. It’s durable, soft and thick enough to look great in a finished piece.
BFK Rives Printmaking Paper - 22" x 30", White, 250 gsm, Single Sheet
Love using cream color paper for some of my prints when I want an overall softer feel to my piece.
BFK Rives Printmaking Paper - 22" x 30", Cream, 280 gsm, Single Sheet
I like to use lightweight paper to run a couple of test prints as I work out colors and how much Gum Arabic I need to add to my paint.
Rives Lightweight Printmaking Paper - Cream, 19" x 26", 115 gsm
Supplies
I paint a thin layer of Gum Arabic on my acrylic sheet and let it dry before I start painting. It helps my paint spread across the sheet, rather than beading up.
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Mediums - Gum Arabic Solution, 75 ml bottle
I use 1/8" thick acrylic sheets because they're sturdy, thin enough to see through when I'm working from a sketch in a sketch book, and my press is calibrated for a sheet this thick.
I sand one side with fine sandpaper and round down the edges to help it move through my press a little easier.
I sand one side with fine sandpaper and round down the edges to help it move through my press a little easier.
Clear Acrylic Sheet - 12" x 12", 0.125" thick
I use fine sandpaper to sand down the face of my acrylic plate. Having the grain in your plate will help your paint adhere, rather than puddle up.
3M General Purpose Sandpaper - Pkg of 5, Assorted Grit, 9" x 11"
I layer a piece of newsprint over my paper and under my blankets. It helps soak up water from my BF Rives paper and prevents paint or water from soaking into my blankets.
Strathmore 300 Series Newsprint Paper Pad - Michaels.com
Paints
These water soluble pastels glide onto your acrylic sheet so smoothly! They're fun to draw directly onto the sheet or work back into with a little water and a brush for a more painterly effect. I also like to layer them onto a finished piece for acce...
Caran dAche Neocolor II Aquarelle Artists Pastels and Sets
The black pencil alone is worth buying these! The black transfer to your paper better than any other brand I've found. The other colors are wonderful as well! I like to draw directly onto my plate, brush through it with a little water, or dip my penc...
FaberCastell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils and Sets
I almost exclusively use the professional Windsor and Newton watercolors. They work great, every time!
Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Paints and Sets
Press
If I was starting to build an at-home printing press today, I would seriously consider a cold laminator. When I was looking at how to create a press, I seriously considered a laminator because of the price and size. I ended up with a Sizzix Pro that ...
VEVORbrand 25 inch Manual Cold Roll Laminator 1.18" Thickness Foldable Roll Laminating Machine Vinyl Photo Film Mounting Laminator for Commercial Professional Uses (25"Max Film Width)
Here’s a YouTube video of a guy that uses a laminator. It works really well for him.
Making relief prints with a laminating machine
You’ll definitely want a pusher to help pull your piece through the press. I got mine from Blick.
Blick Baby Press Pusher Blanket
Here’s a site that will give you an idea of the three blankets you’ll want for your press.
Takach Press -wool felt etching blanket intaglio relief blankets printmaking supplies print printing
My paintings
Here's an example of how I used monocolor watercolor technique to create this painting of Jump Rock at the North Shore. I used gum arabic to help the paint spread across the plate. After I pressed it and it was completely dry, I added some details in...
Waimea Bay Jump Rock Watercolor Art Print: Cliff Jumpers at Oahu North Shore (10x10)
For this piece, I used gum arabic to help keep the paint in place on the plate. After the paint was dry, I went in with a Faber Castell watercolor pencil to create the line work. Then I rolled it through the press.
Paris Fashion Art Print: Watercolor Cityscape, French Street Scene, 10x10
For this piece, I painted directly onto the plate, then went in with a combination of Faber Castell watercolor pencils and Caran D'Ache Neocolor II pastels to do the line work.
Woman Drinking Tea Watercolor Print: Elegant Kitchen Wall Art
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For this piece, I did the background and framing pieces in watercolor, then drew the ballerinas and plants using Caran D'Ache Neocolor II pastels because I really liked the texture.
Pink Ballerina Art Print: Whimsical Wall Decor