Gelatin Prints

In this assignment I made gelatin prints. This meant I would be doing printmaking much like more common types of printmaking, like linoleum printing, but with gelatin instead. The process was similar, but not exactly the same—I'll explain that next. For this project I used a block of gelatin, and put different things—feathers, stencils, shells—on top and then used ink and paper to get the final print. I used a specific ink used for fabrics in this project, although I printed onto square pieced of paper. This is a relatively new form of printmaking.

To begin this project I got my piece of gelatin. This square piece of gelatin was almost as big as my hand, although gelatin prints can be made with much larger amounts of gelatin. Then I would follow a specific process to create my prints. First, I would apply a thin layer of ink on the top of my piece of gelatin, and then I would start to add details. I had many options to work with. I mostly used a net and a feather, rubber bands, and some seashells, to create interesting patterns. Once I was satisfied with the balance and general composition on the gelatin, I would take my first print, leaving the objects I was using on the gelatin. Then for my second print, I would take the objects off of the gelatin and make a second print of the patterns left behind by the objects. Finally, I would take a ghost print (just a print with the remaining ink if there was any). That was how I made all of my five different prints. On one of them, I made it on a large piece of paper so I could alter it. What I did was fill in and draw around the gelatin print with chalk pastels to create a bird's eye view of rivers and lakes.

I made these prints the way they were because I thought they made the most interesting compositions. I loved the way the rubber bands left nice circular negative space and patterns, and I liked how the patterns of the net turned out as well. When I altered the one orange print, I immediately saw rivers and lakes, so that is why I made it like that. I also made it like that because rivers and lakes are very important to me. I love going tubing and swimming on lakes and go fishing frequently on rivers. Maine is home to many lakes and rivers, so that is also a reason I made the print about lakes and rivers.