Balzer Designs

100 Days of Gelatin Printing: Days 29-35

Thanks for the enthusiastic response to my live online classes. The ScanNCut DX Super Basic Beginner sold out pretty quickly, so I added a new section on June 5. Hope to see you there! ---- I think it's fair to say that I'm leaf obsessed. Or at least obsessed with this one leaf mask. I didn't use it every single day...but pretty darn close. Check it out (These images are embedded from instagram. If you can't see them, click HERE.): I even made my Mom a gelatin printed card for Mother's Day and I made a process video about it... Read more →

100 Days of Gelatin Printing: 21-28

Before I get to the gelatin prints, a couple of notes from my online shop: All of my gelatin prints are available for sale. They've been signed and matted in a beautiful bevel edge mat and now simply need to be placed in an 11x14 frame and hung on the wall. If you see one on my instagram that isn't in the shop, I either haven't had time to mat it yet or it has sold. Reach out to me and I can help you out. I have been sorting through our basement and I found some treasures. Hopefully by... Read more →

7 Tools I Use When I Create Gelatin Prints

As you know, I'm working on 100 Days of Gelatin Printing. So, I thought it would be a good idea for me to share the tools I've been using every day to make my gelatin prints. Gelatin Plate. I don't have a brand preference. I use both Gelli Arts and Gel Press plates. I bought a Speedball plate a while ago, but I never opened the package. (I should probably give it a try!) My favorite size is 8x10, but I'll confess to having a dozen plates in different sizes. You absolutely can make your own plate. But, I prefer... Read more →

100 Days of Gelatin Printing: Days 15-20

I looooove gelatin printing. Twenty days into this project and I feel zero fatigue. I am here for the gelatin printing party! Today I'm sharing days 15-20. Check it out (These images are embedded from instagram. If you can't see them, click HERE.): Good news! I'm getting better. Not every print is a winner, but I feel like my color and composition choices are evolving and improving. I also feel like my registration and layering techniques are improving. Improvement is the name of the game in a long form challenge like this, so I'm pretty thrilled! I'm working on a... Read more →

100 Days of Gelatin Printing: Days 8-14

Today I'm sharing the gelatin printing I've done over the last 7 days. Some good. Some bad. Some struggles. Some victories. Check it out (These images are embedded from instagram. If you can't see them, click HERE.): Some thoughts: These are more time consuming than I intended. I may have to (a) set a time limit, (b) use a smaller plate, or (c) work on a print over a few days. After all, I did say it was 100 Days of Gelatin Printing, not Finished Prints. We shall see. I'm actually running out of paint. I mean, I still own... Read more →

100 Days of Gelatin Printing

Well, after weeks of planning, I changed the subject of my 100 day project at the last minute! As the title suggests, I'm doing #100daysofgelatinprinting. The night before the project began I was lying in bed and my brain wouldn't shut off. I just kept thinking that I had picked the wrong topic for this project. And so I pivoted. Here are the first seven days (These images are embedded from instagram. If you can't see them, click HERE.): Some thoughts: Thus far I am feeling great. I have often said that I could make gelatin prints all day long... Read more →

Adventures in Arting Podcast: In the Lino Cave with Susana

On today's podcast I'm talking to Susana McDonnell aka @linocaveprints about her relationship with Speedball Art Supplies, her previous life as a glass blower, creating with a kid, the instagram challenge #printersolstice, and her beautiful geometric art prints! If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. You can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time. It is a recording that is available to you whenever you'd like to listen. You can stream and subscribe through Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts. I like to listen to podcasts while I'm making... Read more →

Re-visiting a Ghost

Back in 2017, I made this monoprint: And there was enough paint on the plate to pull a ghost: I stumbled upon that ghost last week and decided that it needed a little makeover. I feel conflicted. On the one hand, the further along I get in my art-making, the more interested I am in making things that are quirky or odd -- images that force you to take a second look. On the other hand, I also find myself interested in creating simpler and more graphic images. I love some of the detail photos of this re-imagined piece, but... Read more →

Hot Pink Purposeful Print

A new Purposeful Print! And here are some details: As you can see from the first photo, I matted the print. I think the wide white border really allows the print to shine. You know, I wasn't sure about this print until I matted it. Once that wide white border was there, it really captured what I love about art: It's graphic and yet full of details. Matting makes a huge difference, in my opinion. For example, I had these prints pinned up to my painting wall: And they look great, but then I matted them: And they looked even... Read more →

A New Purposeful Print

I don't think I will ever tire of monoprinting. There are so many interesting possibilities and complexities and challenges. It's an art form that you can enjoy as a beginner, but that becomes even more fascinating as you gain skills. Here is a new monoprint I made last week and I loooooove it. It's very minimalistic for me. Not a ton of pattern everywhere and the color palette is pretty strictly primary. I'm trying to push myself to find restraint. It's a real struggle. But what's the point of doing the same thing over and over again? I always want... Read more →