100 Days of Printmaking—a recap

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.

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.

Experiments and play in the sketchbook.

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. 

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.

Triangle stamps with rotation.

The compositions started to look like quilt blocks and patchwork quilts. My stamp carving got more detailed.

Using symmetry and rotation.

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.

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.

Medallion format.

Nature inspired

The stamps lended themselves to nature inspired prints. Here are a few.

Nature inspired compositions.

Making trees.

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.

Stamping, rotation symmetry, and slow drawing.

Medallion, nature inspired, and slow drawing.

Circular stamp with slow drawing.

Medallion with slow drawing.

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. 

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.

Three sketchbooks for printmaking from The 100 Day Project.

Do the 100 Day Project!

Days 1 - 25 of stamping patterns and textures

We passed the 25% mark for The 100 Day Project last week. I'm pleased with my progress on stamp carving, printmaking and creating patterns and textures.

Sketchbook for The 100n Day Project: Stamping, Patterns and Textures.

Here are a few of my favorite prints from Days 1 - 25.

The 100 Day Project: oval stamp, multi-colors.

The 100 Day Project: rotation and multi-colors.

The 100 Day Project: multi-color zigzags.

The 100 Day Project: layering two stamps.

The 100 Day Project: test page.

I  think I had a breakthrough here as this design got several comments on social media. 

The 100 Day Project: triangle stamp with symmetry and rotation.

My stamps are getting more sophisticated.

The 100 Day Project: inspired by free-motion quilting designs.

And my collection of hand-carved rubber stamps is expanding. I like experimenting with multiple stamps in a single pattern.

My box of hand-carved stamps.

Lots of great options!

Did you "Shop Small" this weekend?

I hope so! I supported small indie pattern designers through the 2020 Gift Along and took advantage of the giftalong2020 coupon code to purchase a handful of knit and crochet patterns. 

Shop Small 2020. Small Business support.

Scrolling through the offerings of 250 participating pattern designers on Ravelry, I found an inspiring selection of projects—small to large, easy to a bit more challenging, decorative and functional, and a few with new-to-me techniques or interesting construction concepts.

My pattern picks:

• Brioche Starter Cowl
• Modern Zebra striped shawl
• The Beeswax Hat: knit in-the-round with mini-cables
• colorwork: Ice Time fingerless mitts and the Fir Sprucing Up dishcloth
• bulky yarn Rasta Bucket
• mandala crochet: Sakura Cabled Mandala and Spanish Mandala Pillow
• small, scrap buster projects: Here we Gnome Again and Scintillation stars from Hunter Hammersen of Pantsville Press.
• Deep Feelings and Deschutes River top-down raglan cardigans
• Tucked Away sweater with a saddle shoulder yoke

I'll be searching the yarn stash for appropriate pairings and a few of these may be slated for next year's Make Nine Challenge.

Gift Along 2020 discount and give-aways

The 25% off pattern coupon—giftalong2020—is good through Monday, November 30. Take advantage and support these small business, independent pattern designers.

And if you are so motivated, there are other ways to participate in the Gift Along that encourage completing the projects by year-end (for gift-giving) and winning prizes. 

It's a win-win.

Na-na naaah naah... goodbye (to the mess)

We got our street widened yesterday! After over 2 months, the trucks finally picked up the brush, limbs and tree trunks that lined the street after the April 27 tornado.

Brush and trees after the wake of the tornado.

Crew and trucks cleared away the piles.

On an earlier walk with the dogs, I found beautiful and inspiring patterns in the cross sections of many of the sawed tree trunks.

The shade and beautiful greenery provided by these big trees is greatly missed in our neighborhood.