72 hand carved stamps. 3 sketchbooks. 100 days of hand stamping patterns and textures.
This is the result of my 100 Days of Printmaking with Mixed Media, 2022.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2jLoR6rXUa4GavsAJzA-V1OtjFWhZ9cG9lpTOLYQ3STca_wPF_Ly9DI3sNSd1KAiQmr3m_PXEkHLSThXniU9xZjt2dabyOox69QJSms_Va-HDjmymlB3rE9tW-FDMu4_rsmUu7nywLegHZ8ZAKcZ6_QNKZAWRELE2hgYPh7cYmwk6MRxJPmj7FUQ/w591-h377/first_last%20days%20(1).jpg) |
100 Days of Printmaking: First print (left) and 100th print (right). |
Stamp improv in the sketchbook
This printmaking project started with some ink pads from previous projects and a few stamps. With ideas gleaned from Instagram and Pinterest posts, I began to broaden my stamp carving and printing designs by doing a daily page or two of "stamp play" or "improv stamping" in the sketchbook. One experiment definitely leads to another... and before you know it, it's down the proverbial rabbit hole.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCWaGK7IuLNzXTXQkLSw18RjF6wE7zHXwKmAaPS7HPbt_U1qWP1qlS2qKqOQshUhBTd3evqL1UQUBtzPxTDAV8PRYJjga_Vj8wUEe39oxOGLAKGTze9pUyF1JERrbqG_a4k3jtCPgX7PD2TCPh2VvuOWVMA_m14V16NTSjxOBPbAgPZh4bBvF1wz7/w518-h388/stamp%20play.jpg) |
Experiments and play in the sketchbook. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IWvzZ4JX0SgnQAKIfwYxDu66pw3AXnRXLSUtuYnxA9k_GIogR46-bNaOyXeS5pxnlAlM_qK44ckrdBcLv6dkAG8bVtVKeOhmDJ1vVVn4lA1Rd2Z-vDbehQVslzT4Jj7ppP69VECSo4wTfitNPjUx1XRgrYBC_h2NEeUcFMHEL7oeu_qHbWUQbW_-/w526-h353/colors%20play.jpg) |
Exploring stamp and color combinations. |
Repeats, patterns and textures
My initial thought at the beginning of this 100 Day Project was to create overall textures with the stamps. Sometimes I added another color or two while making the repeats. There is a mindfulness when creating a page full of repeats.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomakKepR0znVMEcf568MbBXvJydyU0nbjGmmv_w4_JU6MsNkOevvhEtGZ-tGamzPhChcVKua0urOsXcE7IwioGWrGseozl8MaTn4zA2rJBpbI1WwT5fiLCF6hJpggv0hPeTHHe59a0CYeIPCOWMaeAAVyGXlnVlc2B9jbF5HM3sYrNiQh1cVg8avx/w506-h506/4up%20repeats%20textures.jpg) |
Repeat patterns with hand carved stamps. |
Symmetry and rotation
Making repeats led to carving stamps that, when rotated, would create a secondary design. Squares, half or quarter circles, and 45-45-90 degree triangles worked well for this.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3JEQHHObLEhrT49P1hf4tnYJVaQjyDI8Lzs_JuFcfNX8zp9Aj-xHxYZ7SVzh20KeXLnxx-xe0WF61IYHnGoWDL-tsNYwHBI-i3OZwY228pdBoTGbeB9PnzTK1VEYFfZ1XC4HQu8TptWJLjc58BWzH_PLPlgVzsIQ-s1J3fhYdjvIE9T9xjgMkS59/w578-h246/Triangle%20repeat%202.jpg) |
Triangle stamps with rotation. |
The compositions started to look like quilt blocks and patchwork quilts. My stamp carving got more detailed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzacMwcUO6eG98iADVH8lTNTDGeQniifkM8teO9tYarF7V56O50SsnqmxMqG0p_ujyIevFmiTfT5iHtym_E_a-JlWf_BQtwAOihBN2u5XyLH64cFwDRWlCYT43VvYYzE5IIC_27Rww5afVrqqeZpyhjALGhpfalYNrQnZuEdy9cyHZozOLnQos8sq/w513-h384/Triangle%20repeat%201.jpg) |
Using symmetry and rotation. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MVDEPGB7MalIEkIeRLA1rKnDTSiN7FC6eCSIcmSvhWyEHql6YE7Jq-q9GHWfDG43zoZ0-GerlPx0nS7lmkysXe5-0nLHFS2Ubg8iYdm6jZyh2jTybh0tXFmG2Nb9uCU6VgfklgExWjeOKO2r_zYbNxqw1MFFeuiTJLVcKU0xT_MHgy1FQJBVUUuh/w508-h373/Triangle%20repeat%203.jpg) |
Triangle stamps using symmetry. |
Ghost prints
Printing with the stamp and following up with a second print without re-inking the stamp is a ghost print. The second print is a lighter version of the original image and sometimes can even look like a different color of ink.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5vKCzTm5N7GMVNq6pXUtDQ8mJNT1j5c0yNIYtKDfbRygLbLJh6fDq2cAZdoqeGj4I1TrdfZqVYKnQiOAjqxfMUQmfEzAPYULrcgA_wwaOtY0ZW1mAdWzIUJVJ9Ujs9JNAZqvhD3Oxc1QAYYmfIRzeTWKKu1PO4-fNkncJz50ZfNEWFHFa2OU7sVi/w588-h289/2up%20ghost%20prints.jpg) |
Ghost prints. |
Medallions
On Days 53 and 54 I started to combine stamps and print them in a medallion format. Sometimes I would use multiple ink colors. This got to be a lot of fun.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcau6RKw05Ngh2XeXrCVdsFvYX52Id0B0EC4G23W2NpVW20T3YFqYWENfyj9p0CSX41fXV3HPA17Jm4DSAdXx21T_t2ic949BUSDS6SHMmmVocWplk89_2lbAoJG50iU8S5bSClVU4o5b4tIN_59VP6WjNr9nR6k49TganD4aVzmNa5Omej40ed9i/w536-h536/4%20up%20medallions%20(1).jpg) |
Medallion format. |
Nature inspired
The stamps lended themselves to nature inspired prints. Here are a few.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Yc6wRP2LvC7FI2wycxdKLHyxr3_oM2drSE9i3IeF0jgIE7GnS3pRkrRrbtCkVrESID4YbcLgICmcwxfjuLKrBUou6owO4yvaSbdx4-UccSMpcUvNqqg7BbguEA5Hh8NQphSNPgb_Sar0VNW_19aSZvLOzcJ7x-S0osiIEkzEzWr8zcehmjxAVnDQ/w527-h396/Nature_garden.jpg) |
Nature inspired compositions. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFskiwMVi4UV_iu-T7gcrhcO5155w_R463GeMjL9-ok1f9tW76mwRvy0XFxgExgBnTI-BxpAiq7SYFu8qqbAm1dJqPMviuobcxffW-Z7_rVy_FFlJm-Jz6y8jmAA6bM3cVKkPkVn9FvHNunt_IRYzOf7fhMEcRRJhjgtAdAZ_w1GQYdyR7sVjE9E0/w530-h398/Nature_trees.jpg) |
Making trees. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSjX590q6JtE_-ow1Fw6si4mhq5Z5svMj-t_yzb-q3ukZ4A2iKMpAyl8qIB_xp73Pf3iKRaPVqiNJGyAoZ7kP338_5CwRrWPFDAqDSrrpp70CgUXpUOA6Iu-bSjlb6gbFuM1XJa0jRo2R_eyOa0PZPTTRaPcC2Wv0ljo03RYw72A6Oiwx1wWlD91U/w527-h336/organic%20prints%20(1).jpg) |
Abstract landscapes. |
Stamping and Slow Drawing
As time went on, the compositions became more intricate, detailed and interesting. I added slow drawing and sometimes watercolor to the stamped compositions.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5sArn2VbHxha2493jj45j0hI0TpbL1XaPtgElMFjFacWI_Y8sGzgImOG0hR5Pb4ZWDBvxf0LjZONHeOjj1lyDHJpNdeP-ZlhlvKvLQ3AiG2V0B8WhKgpcimSXAeaQpHU367uj2XyWMMzEmZKjQsPoSpVqY58ji7uiRYwrvDeCqfOSOUKhNQlWt9E/w522-h392/slow%20drawing%201.jpg) |
Stamping, rotation symmetry, and slow drawing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAUxtU0kLj1-CAYaDP-XjImDUW5IMw0Sof_kp0TZ1lQmgb4SlPYwSO2akopZ8rM5CNkJMpeLKOcLL8kxweKorQJNLxMQyk3nBlCGuqVUGaZcxu6zLh9yHR5z00qBZuIWKTpYrFTIT9_HXDUy3_aQ_bY9HTvCQKAfazvixPt0_jMZfXq62o2hIDDaI/w515-h377/medallion%20slow%20drawing.jpg) |
Medallion, nature inspired, and slow drawing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxwUIlVKTIxS1upmkJc7mDToavVA3TZgfLOliSPzr8EYwcBYVkuI14vHT9BIJ8QitOH1jyXrzXNcLNRbGo6AEww4phBWtQ5jpAk3BeJOlDNcsH9Oy5m2oYE62XjOl31SRNiQS8UaJ0HmIYe50-kMcfAuVP60VVC56YbFZm9QYLFJHY90leAgoGNwr/w514-h386/slow%20drawing%202.jpg) |
Circular stamp with slow drawing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1Q8zk1cJHT1jXw2bZyvo-JxhNY735ET7X9a6XanDfxuluQD9Mjy7lXK0BR-7ftFdgpILgHpfG7gbIkVv5PjKh2ic7dibFW99_P4zIcDxcy5OaPIL8e1KcDDwNpFQgUpfyFMwnSSTt7_iprhP3YvFft8wAoQFAaObfAh4DWRUF1AuOTfeivIVOXRh/w516-h383/slow%20drawing%203.jpg) |
Medallion with slow drawing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3U1zVE85PFXLz0c26zNwDLuYf4bAWxktdQ4cpD6uciRok1dAackL6pNOugGv5sRTUYeEBOHhTyLSTgNSg_t-LQCp-VmGC86efPVuggP9Ndx3QNrc0P2HUCnzLuh1trmAuHHdTE2660-WOgplqpsVLVPhGgZIX4SYfi9Fn3vXfMNLCo1RTBvpWrs_/w509-h380/slow%20drawing%20watercolor.jpg) |
Stamping, watercolor painting, and slow drawing. |
Learning and improving by working the 100 Day process
My primary goal for doing a printmaking 100 Day Project was to learn more about working with hand-carved stamps and improve my skills in this activity. In looking at my compositions over the course of 100 days, I can see improvement and a higher level of exploration.
I discovered new-to-me materials—round stamp blanks, acrylic mounts, and VersaFine Clair ink pads—and other artists using this medium. Other revelations are listed on the Day 50 blog post.
My collection of hand-carved rubber stamps has exploded: 72 stamps with 3 that I use both sides.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iajEW-_xLBSSU0n883eXqkqe03FRP2Z86HNLjAReNGUKYLkTcl5ciCtNJzR0NpjL9OmMB2rh0o2OSyXDEp3mvakTwWkXIklUnXjHb8zHhZm8UPMQbi99sRep23L1zGQ00rirKo_FB7l-62_f1uNHfaKn58MgO-RUGjv03v-c-psYe2-dpfelltPJ/w557-h336/72%20stamps.jpg) |
Hand carved rubber stamps. |
I have three sketchbooks from this 100 Days of Printmaking project. I've continued to use my stamps to make new compositions, although without a daily commitment. I know I would not have done this and experimented with this printmaking technique without making it a 100 Day Project.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTniF6VAIyntfCcsDtPIflLGfCqS_biqyfD_nAQCvc_IMmTqpsKP_0ZAQ6ZYUoSVmA7xaFpnIVstRCilLhfQbUBW7YxxEhtZlow7LuBeppeszKiDUV2s7_fxfhlv_T7a99bm1-aTOGlRk-mjN_CKDoFd_8UCAg8unAc7i1uFewO05MeJ3tY2N4MIa9/w557-h418/3%20sketchbooks_100days.jpg) |
Three sketchbooks for printmaking from The 100 Day Project. |
Do the 100 Day Project!