FAQ: Gelatin Monoprint      

Recipe updated 2015/ newer recipe includes Glycerine. The Glycerine blocks last almost forever, the blocks with out the Glycerine will work for printing but do not last long, will mold badly and require disposal.

Step by step Demo

Supplies Needed:
Molds for making gelatin plate, non stick brownie pans/ pastic food trays etc.
Gelatin, *Monoprint or unflavored food grade/ Monoprint gelis better, see supplier info at bottom of page.
Glycerine (optional see explanation below)
Bowl for mixing (or mix in your mold)
Water both cold and very hot (near boiling)
Measuring spoon & cups
Brayer
Palette for rolling ink on
Water-based block printing ink, fluid acrylic paints
Textured ephemera
Paper, lightweight, strong paper such as asian papers, bond paper, filter papers

Recipe = per 1 cup of water 2 tablespoons *Monoprint gelatin, 2 ounces of **Glycerine.

More gelatin will yield a stronger more durable printing block.

Glycerine is optional, without it the blocks will mold and need to be thrown away (never down a sink drain). With the Glycerine the blocks will last almost forever, they do dry out but can be remelted adding only water to recreate a fresh printing block. With Glycerine there is no need to refrigerate in most climates.

Measure the non stick container for how much liquid you need to fill them 3/4 to 1 inch thick with gelatin mix. You’ll need a smooth bottomed container. If your mold holds 6 cups of liquid then you need to make 6 x the recipe above. The requisite for the mold is that it be smooth bottomed and non stick. You’re trying to make as smooth a printing surface as possible.

Put cold water into the bowl or mold and sprinkle the dry granules onto the surface of the water. Let the granules absorb (Swelling) the water. Then add boiling water and to completely dissolve the granules. Gently stir in the Glycerine, stir slowly to avoid bubbles, pour slowly into your container, remove all bubbles on the surface, let gelatin set up on counter, it will set up nicely in a 70° F room, if it is hot and humid then move to refrigerator. After it is firm (few hours in refrigerator) remove from mold.

*TIP TO REMOVE BUBBLES: gently drag newspaper across the surface of bubbly gelatin or gently use a hair dryer / heat gun to pop the bubbles (dragging the newsprint is safer)

When the gelatin is solid cut around the edges and remove the block, un-mold carefully. Allow gelatin block to stand at room temperature to dry out a bit.

DO NOT dispose of gelatin in sink drain toss out into trash. It will smell bad quickly and in a drain the gelatin will act like cement.

Alternatives to the non stick pans and more traditional way to make the printing block is to use a large sheet of glass and make a well from clay. Make a clay rope and press on to the glass sheet. Form a complete frame/well. Pour the warm gelatin into the clay on glass well and when it is solid remove the clay rope. This will create wonderful edges and is easy to handle because there is no unmolding the gelatin.

Printing

Roll ink onto a palette with a brayer then roll ink onto gelatin surface.  The coating of ink should be slightly transparent over the gelatin.  Too much ink will create a blurry /watery print. It takes several passes of rolling the ink out onto the gelatin to condition the fresh gelatin block as you begin. The first time you roll the inks onto the blocks the ink will be watery. Just use plain paper, newprint and remove the ink until you get a nice smooth and evenly inked up block.

Now lightly press/lay objects onto the surface of the inked gelatin.  You are only pressing into the ink not the gelatin, so be gentle.

For a positive Image remove objects from the gelatin plate and place paper down onto the plate, paper will pick up the detail of the positive image of your object.

For a Negative Image place objects onto inked gelatin plate. Place paper over the object and gently press all around.  Again be gentle.  Remove paper and you’ll have a negative or silhouetted image of your object.

Draw with tools or paint brushes into/onto the surface of the ink, use feathers, stencils, rubber stamps, string, leaves, etc.

Resources : All the printmaking supplies are available at most art supply stores. The book making supplies are a bit harder to find.
Jerry’s Artarama (personal favorite) online
Jerry's Artarama 14 Imperial Place Providence, RI 02903 401-331-4530
Blick Art Materials Landmark Center, Fenway 401 Park Drive Boston, MA 02215 617-247-3322
Charrette 31 Olympia Avenue Woburn, MA 01801 781-935-6000
Paper Source 1810 Mass.Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 617-497-1077
Utrecht 333 Massachusetts Ave. Boston, MA 02115 617-262-4948

*MONOPRINT gelatin from: Available in 1 lb to 10 lb boxes.
Please tell them you learned about this from me.
Gelatin Innovations (Vyse) , 5024 Rose Street, Schiller Park IL 60176 800-442-8263
http://www.gelatininnovations.com
sales@gelatininnovations.com
http://www.ballisticgelatin.net

**Glycerine  is available online from soap makers and cake decorating suppliers, it is vegetable based. Small quanitites can be purchased in some beauty supply or pharmacy type stores.