Hi John, Thanks for the feedback and the compliment. I hope you do give glazing a try - it makes the process slower, and less risky, which is good since you can’t really un-do what you carve away. Happy printing to you!

You are so welcome, Karen! :) happy printing!

Hello Batzeth - maybe try this simpler version of a drypoint engraving: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bpyehbqImba6aYE.htmlsi=iDgrKHQMOYsxpPkp

I’m glad some parts of the process were new to you! And I hope your experiments are fun and fruitful! Happy printing!

Hi Phil, the plates for each printmaking method were different but the single sheet of paper was soaked and blotted in the same time amount so the swell & shrink were the same for each part of the process. And for the record, variations and overlap of edges in print registration is not something I fret about because it is evidence that each print is hand made. Perfection isn’t a goal (for me). I hope that answers your question. 🙋🏻‍♀️

Thanks for the feedback, Marjorie! Happy drawing!

Hi Deirdre - thanks for the feedback! I’m glad the demo was helpful and I hope you have hours of fun in your next printmaking adventures!

Hi Kachigh - if you’re using Akua inks, id recommend their particular brand of tarlatan: amzn.to/44PoNNp It can be used over and over, and washed out every few months or so with Dawn Dish soap in a bucket, and then hung to dry outdoors.

Hi Carovision, When printing by hand (without a press), a smooth, lightweight printmaking paper like this works very well: amzn.to/4dRY5YE Happy printing!

Thank you!

Hi Kath, If I am in the midst of printing an edition, I just re-ink and wipe and then print over and over again, unless I’m changing colors from - say, black ink to green ink, or if I’m finished with the printing, and then I use a soft tooth brush and drop of dawn dish soap on the plate, with no water at first, to gently scrub the ink out of the incised grooves. Then rinse the plate, the toothbrush and my hands in warm water. Dry and store the plate after confirming that all the ink has been removed. Happy printing!

Hi Scott, I’m so glad you found the demonstration helpful! I use MagMix all the time, and I wish more printmakers knew about it for adjusting thickness and viscosity in their Akua inks! Happy printing to you!

Hi James - I’m glad the details were pertinent to your printmaking project, and I hope your drypoint/etch details make your print project sing! Happy printing to you!

You’re welcome, Bernadette! Have fun experimenting!

Glad it was helpful! Happy printing!

Hi Caro - you mean hand-transferring a relief print? If so, yes, folks have been printing relief style prints with nothing but a wooden spoon for decades. It’s fun and simple: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oripaM-n173XkWQ.htmlsi=bwQdUVHQ5fplJQ1y Happy experimenting!

Hi Edie - yes, but only when you’ve arranged certain conditions: thin, flexible, smooth (no tooth), soaked and blotted paper, good transfer ink, and a gloss finish on your plate so the ink transfers/releases easily and adheres to the paper. DO some simple, abstract experiments to see how much ink you need to apply to your design and how much brayer pressure you’ll need against a variety of papers to note which combo works best for your ideas before you invest all sorts of time manipulating the perfect monotype image.

@@bdelpesco Thank you so much! 🤗

Thanks for the compliment, @pictureel5863 ! Happy experimenting!

Hi Romel, I don't like water-based inks, but I love water-wash-up inks. My preferred brands are Akua and Caligo Safewash. If you use Akua, be sure your black paper has *no* sizing in it, or the ink will not dry. The opacity of the inks are great.

@@bdelpesco Thanks for the response and efforts. Any particular reason for not liking water based inks? My assumption is that the water based intaglio/etchings ink tends to move if watercolor is placed above them. When referring to Caligo Safewash are your referring to Caligo Safe Wash Etching Ink? For Akua I am only seeing their Intaglio Water-Based Ink when I search , are you referring to another type of Akua ink?.

@romelmadrayart Hi Romel - water based inks re-wet when you add any wet media - making mud - and they dry super fast - on the plate and on the slab, so printing an edition is challenging. Water-WASHABLE inks are not water based - Akua is soy oil based, and Caligo is linseed oil based, so pay close attention to how the term water is used in the marketing verbiage. Both Akua and Caligo are formulated to wash up/clean with water. Akua dries via *absorption* into the paper, so any good printmaking paper works beautifully. Caligo *air dries*, slowly, so you have time to roll out your color on the slab, or the plate, and print your edition. And yes, I’m referring to Caligo Safewash etching and relief inks - both are amazing, and newer to me, as well as Akua intaglio inks - which I’ve used for years.

Hi Susan, There are many opinions about how to mark prints with variations. I would mark each print with the title, my signature, the print number, edition size and e.v. for "edition varies". 🙌

Thanks for the feedback. I hope you heal fast and get back to your press soon.

Hello, Alice - a press makes the job faster, and more thorough, but you can still get a good print with a spoon, especially if you keep your lifework relatively simple. Watch this demo: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bpyehbqImba6aYE.htmlsi=o0TLFQ91JyZxqmhF

Thanks for the feedback, Maggie! 🌺

I’m so glad you found it useful! Thanks for letting me know. 🪻

Hi Evelyn, I’m glad the monotype print demo was helpful! Printmaking paper works best, and after soaking or dipping it in water, you lay the wet sheet of paper in/on a towel folded over so you can blot both sides of the paper. You shouldn’t see any shine of moisture. Smooth your hands over the towel to push it into the paper and wick up the water, leaving the paper damp but not dripping or shiny. 👍🏽

Have a look at this video which shows some soaking and blotting of prints to add more layers: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jM-Zm9WLzcrcc6c.htmlsi=fVJTaeyxmaOOtFGy

@@bdelpesco thank you so much!!

Thanks so much for your support, Pat! Happy printmaking to you! 🎉❤🎉

Good luck with your experiments, and happy printing!

Thank you! Cheers!🤓

Thanks for the feedback, Jacqueline! I don’t have the reference photo any more, but you’re welcome to visit the blog post for this tutorial to download the finished painting so you can print it in black and white and use that as a jumping off point. www.belindadelpesco.com/watercolor-sunday-soak.html/

Hi Jessica! Thanks for your compliments. I hope your classroom has so much fun printing their monotypes. Let me know if you have any questions. 👍🏽

You’re welcome, Marjonneke!

Goos tearing to you.

Glad it was helpful! Happy Printmaking!

Hi Bill - I’m glad it was helpful! I hope your volume of smaller sizes and your edges are all satisfying!

I enjoy the tearing process and I've yet to create a full edition of prints with a new(old) press that is an ongoing enjoyment of learning. As I continue to learn I realize how your templates will save time and eliminate the need for any paper waste. The small tabs tip for picking up paper with messy hand is great. PS... thanks also for the link on how paper is made. Paper is such a gift.

Hi Bill, I hope your exploration of the new/old press and paper tearing to prep for an edition moves you to complete one. It’s incredibly satisfying to print, dry, sort and number your prints as a complete edition. And yes, paper is such a gift. And so many kinds to try. Happy printing to you.

Hi Gmom - have fun with your printmaking adventures!

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement! I appreciate your feedback.

Great idea! I will add your measurements to that template and see if it works. I have at least 8 templates so far, and I’m always eager to add another or alter what I’ve got to get higher yield. 👍🏽

Hi Edith - when you’re watching the video, there is a red KZfaq button on the video screen in the lower right corner. Click that to subscribe. 😻

Thanks for the feedback, Jenny! I hope you try monotype prints!

Thank you, Rashad!

Thanks 🤗 Lucretia!

You're welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful! Happy printing!

Hi Virginia, can you give an example of what you’re asking?

Hello Five - I’m glad the spritzing is making good strides for you. I do spritz for each layer of added color. I think the success on that will depend on each printmaker’s choice of paper and ink, so test the results on your proof prints before applying the practice on your edition prints. 👍🏽

Thanks for the feedback, CJ... happy printing!

Hi Barbara, If you’re doing gelli plate printmaking, you can use acrylic paint, or Akua inks. If you’re doing collagraph printmaking, I’d recommend staying with printmaking ink - either Akua intaglio, or traditional oil based printmaking ink (Daniel Smith, Graphic Chemical or Hawthorn, etc.) Happy experimenting!

Bonjour, Cathy. Vous verrez quelques photos des applicateurs en feutre dans cet article de blog: www.belindadelpesco.com/collagraph-tutorial.html/

Thank you, Shane!