Balzer Designs

#PrintInktober: Days 1-7

We're about a week into #Printinktober! 

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been printing on fabric.  Most of what I've been printing on is fat-quarter sized fabric. I've managed to post a process video every day so far.  Yay!  What you'll see is the process video, embedded from instagram (if you get this blog via e-mail you may need to click on the title of the post to view the videos online) and a photo of the finished fabric:

I love that I'm beefing up my collection of hand printed fabric.  I don't have any specific plans for any of this fabric.  I plan to just incorporate it into the fabric projects I make over time.

It's not too late to join in on all the fun!  Remember, it's easy to participate using what you already have on hand:

• Use the hashtag #printinktober when you post.
• Any stamp can be used – foam, wood, silicone, rubber, hand carved, lino, whatever you want!  (And you don't even have to use a stamp.)
• Any ink can be used – screenprinting ink, marker ink, stamping ink, printing ink, etc.
• You can use the official inktober prompts, if you'd like.  Or not.
• Have fun and don’t worry if you miss a day (or more). The point of the challenge is to get those stamps out of storage and into use!!

Thanks for stopping by!

#PrintInktober Starts Tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that #Printinktober starts tomorrow! 

I'm moving in October (yay and ugh), but I'm determined to see this project through.  My plan is to print on fabric this year.  I think it will be great to have lots of cool yardage at the end of the month.  Some of the supplies I've gathered for this process include:

• Cotton weight quilting fabric.  Some PFD and some not.  Some plain white and some colored.  Some patterned.  Just a mix of fabric.
• A soft mat for printing on.  I use a piece of batting under a piece of fabric for this.
• Credit Cards/Hotel Room Keys
• Palette Paper
• Printing Ink.  Speedball is my favorite.
• Fabric-Safe Ink Pads.  There's a great comparison article about ink pads on fabric here.  I agree with the reviews and VersaCraft is my fabric ink pad of choice.
• Fabric Paint -- lots of brands I love, but I use a lot of SoSoft.
• Stamps and screens
• Gelatin Plate
• Brayer
• Baren

I'm hoping that even with the moving, I can keep up.  But if not, I plan to give myself some grace and patient understanding.

You can follow my daily printing adventures on instagram and I'll also be sure to share once a week-ish here on the blog. I hope you'll consider joining in on the challenge.  Remember, it's easy to participate using what you already have on hand:

• Create and post one print each day in October.  (But remember: nobody cares if you don't actually do it every day.  1 day is better than none!)
• Use the hashtag #printinktober when you post.
• Any stamp can be used – foam, wood, silicone, rubber, hand carved, lino, whatever you want!  (And you don't even have to use a stamp.)
• Any ink can be used – screenprinting ink, marker ink, stamping ink, printing ink, etc.
• You can use the official inktober prompts, if you'd like.  Or not.
• Have fun and don’t worry if you miss a day (or more). The point of the challenge is to get those stamps out of storage and into use!!

Thanks for stopping by!

A PanPastel Portrait Monoprint

I'm seriously addicted to PanPastels on my gelatin plate. I can't stop (and I don't really want to).  Yesterday I broke out my 8x10 plate and decided to try creating a portrait that I could monoprint.  It actually worked out better than I thought it would (if you can't see the video, click on the title of this post).

Here's a pic of the plate and first print next to each other:

I thought it was an amazingly good pull. 

The only thing that didn't really translate were some of the white highlights -- like the catch light in her eyes, the tip of her nose, some of the lip shading, etc.

I did manage to pull two more prints.  You can see all three together here:

There's definitely some fading in the later pulls, but if you look at the last two pulls together, they still have integrity.

I definitely want to do some more experimenting with this technique. I think white highlights may be like working with watercolor -- you have to leave them space from the beginning.  But, we shall see.

I hope you find some time to play with your art supplies this weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Screenprinting with the Cambridge Modern Quilt Guild

I looooove taking classes.  I think you know that by now.  So when I found out that my local Modern Quilt Guild, The Cambridge Modern Quilt Guild, was offering a free screenprinting workshop this past weekend, I jumped at the opportunity!

Even though I have done a lot of different kinds of screenprinting before, I decided that I wanted to go to the class nonetheless.  Why?  Well, a few reasons:

• Classes are a great opportunity to get to know other creative people.  I was delighted to sit at a table full of friendly and chatty ladies.
• No matter how much you know, you can always learn something new.  It might be about the technique.  It might be about teaching.  It might be about the kinds of questions students have.  It might be about supplies.  There is always something to learn.
• Inspiration abounds in classes. The other students are wonderful creative resources!
• Classes are time that you carve into your schedule for yourself.  Self care is vital to happiness and taking art classes is one of the ways that I take care of myself.
• It was free.  What have I lost -- other than a few hours -- if it's awful?

I had lots of fun and here's a peek at what we made in class (FYI: there is a swear word in one of the following images -- don't scroll down if that's a problem for you):

I made two screens in class -- a flower and a face:

If you're interested in learning how to screenprint at home, there are tons of free YouTube videos on the topic.  And lots of great books like, Screenprinting at Home by Karen Lewis.  The two instructors for our screenprinting class took a class with Karen and taught us one of the techniques from that book.

I hope you enjoyed today's post! Thanks for stopping by!

Two Classes at The Ink Pad in NYC

Last month I taught two fabulous art classes at The Ink Pad in NYC.  Take a peek at the fun we had:

Every time I teach I'm always reinvigorated and refreshed by other people's talent, creativity, commitment, and excitement.  The best part of class -- teaching or taking -- is the people in the room! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to class.  I don't think I'll be doing any more in-person teaching for the rest of the year, and this was a great way to go out with a bang!  (I do hope to have some new online classes up by the end of the summer!)

Thanks for stopping by!