Love this video. I do a lot of these polystyrene prints with kids, but am planning an adult activity, and love the idea of tesselation! When we transfer rather than poking with a very sharp pencil we use a ball point pen, first through the paper, then directly on the polystyrene to deepen the lines. Works quickly and smoothly for us. Thanks again for the fresh idea!!
Really enjoy listening to your videos. I always learn something new. Your instructions are concise and easy to follow. I also like that you keep them fairly short in length which gives us more time to make prints. You are a lovely man. Thanks for taking us along on your art journeys.
Getting in early, for once.... I've done a few of these prints, in a single color. I love both how immediate the technique is, and how effective even simple marks are. Other things you can use for your marks are a spent biro/ballpoint or the curved part of a paper clip, which is a smoother go. It doesn't grab the styrofoam or dig in as much. A great, fairly inexpensive, quite versatile, and much more ergonomic tool is a pin vise. It's sort of like the cylindrical handle of a craft knife, but with a small round chuck, like on the end of a drill. (Make sure you check the diameter of the handle; many are too slim to fit my hand comfortably. I prefer something around 3/8" - 1/2", or about 1.3-1.75 cm, or even slightly larger.) Anyway, the tool holds all sorts of small round tools, such as rotary tool (e.g., Dremel, or Fordham, in the US) attachments, in it. For purposes of this printmaking technique, you could also use it as a holder for a piece of paper clip, with a fine loop, or even a sharp bend, on the end. And, of course, there's always my repeatedly-mentioned, constant favorite, the ball-ended embossing tool. Great for not grabbing the polystyrene foam, and available in a variety of diameters, one of which will be far easier than the others, for any particular combination of thickness of your plastic foam and heavy-handedness of pressure. In addition to the drawing method you demonstrate, you can also make judicious use of items to press a texture into the plate (sometimes reinforcing by drawing back over them). This can further collapse the foam, if you try to cover too much area, especially in a single go. But things like the grills on circulating fans, the edges of pottery tools or kitchen implements, or shapes bent from paper clip wire make interesting marks. Again, you may need to reinforce the marks. Sometimes, it can be interesting to leave the edges of indentations with a softer fall-off. Things like marbles, small ball bearings, or BBs (do you call them that in Britain?) or beads (or an embossing tool) can work for a soft, stippled texture. Crisper stippling is available with pencil, pen, pin, awl, end of a paper clip, etc. As you say about line work, don't space these /too/ closely. Covering the back of your foam with tape, from the beginning, can improve durability, though cracks are still a risk. You'll still need to handle with care. Finally, as with your previous quick video with the bananagrams tiles, I applaud your technique in this one. Your organizational and presentation skills have taken a huge leap, lately. I really love it when artists apply creativity as much to tools and technique and supplies as to their content. It always leverages the results into a new realm. It's been really rewarding watching that part of your evolution, as well! Thanks for all your research, experimentation, and technical effort on all our behalves. You are a most generous instructor!
Some many amazing tips in here! I love the idea of pressing in griils, fans etc. Will definitely m ake another video that is more industrial / abstract in aim and outcome. I've tried ceramics tools, indenting then rolling them a little - they were good for what you describe as a softer 'fall-off'. You're a mine of info and I'm sure otherviewers value your detail and suggestions as much as i do, cheers.
Love this print and how you take the old technique that usually results in rather loose or messy prints to another level of sophistication! You are top notch. Again, thank you for your amazing channel and ideas.
That was brilliant 👏 Just the kind of project I need to get acclimated to printing again since it has been...ummm...35 years?! The pattern was lovely and I really admire the repurposing of household packaging otherwise headed for the landfill or incinerator (or stuck in my shrubbery from the last windstorm).
The link I just shared is for a video demonstrating a roller ruler. I only just discovered its existence a week ago and I'm 61. My jaw dropped. It's such a time saver for exactly the kind of stuff you're measuring out here. By the way, great fan.
So many useful tips! Love how this came out. I think I'd have to use carbon paper and then an old biro or ball stylus as I"d get carried away with the stabby stabby 🤣
Craft foam from £1 shops or craft supply chains works as well for printing if you can’t get hold of these polystyrene sheets as they’re now being phased out. The craft foam is not as fragile as polystyrene so better for use if you’re working with children. I used a a ball point pen to make marks & the ink leaves a residue acting like a resist making the printing even clearer. I used a small amount of acrylic paint as I didn’t want to buy printing ink & it worked really well.
Gosh blast from the past my folks had wall paper that kind of colourings and tessalated geometric design in the 70s😂 However lovely to see you don't need a lot of expensive equipment to make prints
Lovely project, great tips! I learned some new tricks. When I do styrofoam prints, I use a toothpick or a metal awl to incise my design. Both work very well.
Great idea, what a beautiful pattern. Thanks for showing what you can make with a 10cm grid. It might be an idea to glue 2 parts polystyrene together for more sturdiness? Great video, thank you!
Hey Mark, just wanted to jump on and mention a video I just came across and thought might interest you. The woman who I saw present it was Lucy Locks and I think it was titled 'the New Lino' ...or something like that, but the woman she was working from was Hannah Jensen. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy 😉 it.
I checked it out, thanks, very interesting. I'll plug her channel in a future video and see if we can get her some more attention - she definitely deserves it will all the interesting stuff she's doing : )
Forgot to say that the double thick "fun foam" can be used similarly with the piercing technique to create marks and lines. Did a bit of that for a holiday card using two blocks.
Gosh, beautiful! Your lessons are so very clear! And entertaining! Thank you.
You have the best printing videos! Thank you.
Very kind lynn, thanks
Great project for younger students and art programs on a tight budget!
Indeed : )
I am really enjoying this channel. Everything you post is a little fire under my creativity.
Great to hear, : )
Love this video. I do a lot of these polystyrene prints with kids, but am planning an adult activity, and love the idea of tesselation! When we transfer rather than poking with a very sharp pencil we use a ball point pen, first through the paper, then directly on the polystyrene to deepen the lines. Works quickly and smoothly for us. Thanks again for the fresh idea!!
I loved watching this process, thanks for sharing😊
A pleasure : )
Thanks for another great video. You are such a great teacher and I love the originality of your work.
Cheers Gina, for all the lovely comments ; )
Really enjoy listening to your videos. I always learn something new. Your instructions are concise and easy to follow. I also like that you keep them fairly short in length which gives us more time to make prints. You are a lovely man. Thanks for taking us along on your art journeys.
Lovely message Cathy, thanks so much : )
Getting in early, for once.... I've done a few of these prints, in a single color. I love both how immediate the technique is, and how effective even simple marks are. Other things you can use for your marks are a spent biro/ballpoint or the curved part of a paper clip, which is a smoother go. It doesn't grab the styrofoam or dig in as much.
A great, fairly inexpensive, quite versatile, and much more ergonomic tool is a pin vise. It's sort of like the cylindrical handle of a craft knife, but with a small round chuck, like on the end of a drill. (Make sure you check the diameter of the handle; many are too slim to fit my hand comfortably. I prefer something around 3/8" - 1/2", or about 1.3-1.75 cm, or even slightly larger.) Anyway, the tool holds all sorts of small round tools, such as rotary tool (e.g., Dremel, or Fordham, in the US) attachments, in it. For purposes of this printmaking technique, you could also use it as a holder for a piece of paper clip, with a fine loop, or even a sharp bend, on the end. And, of course, there's always my repeatedly-mentioned, constant favorite, the ball-ended embossing tool. Great for not grabbing the polystyrene foam, and available in a variety of diameters, one of which will be far easier than the others, for any particular combination of thickness of your plastic foam and heavy-handedness of pressure.
In addition to the drawing method you demonstrate, you can also make judicious use of items to press a texture into the plate (sometimes reinforcing by drawing back over them). This can further collapse the foam, if you try to cover too much area, especially in a single go. But things like the grills on circulating fans, the edges of pottery tools or kitchen implements, or shapes bent from paper clip wire make interesting marks. Again, you may need to reinforce the marks. Sometimes, it can be interesting to leave the edges of indentations with a softer fall-off. Things like marbles, small ball bearings, or BBs (do you call them that in Britain?) or beads (or an embossing tool) can work for a soft, stippled texture. Crisper stippling is available with pencil, pen, pin, awl, end of a paper clip, etc. As you say about line work, don't space these /too/ closely. Covering the back of your foam with tape, from the beginning, can improve durability, though cracks are still a risk. You'll still need to handle with care.
Finally, as with your previous quick video with the bananagrams tiles, I applaud your technique in this one. Your organizational and presentation skills have taken a huge leap, lately. I really love it when artists apply creativity as much to tools and technique and supplies as to their content. It always leverages the results into a new realm. It's been really rewarding watching that part of your evolution, as well! Thanks for all your research, experimentation, and technical effort on all our behalves. You are a most generous instructor!
Some many amazing tips in here! I love the idea of pressing in griils, fans etc. Will definitely m ake another video that is more industrial / abstract in aim and outcome. I've tried ceramics tools, indenting then rolling them a little - they were good for what you describe as a softer 'fall-off'. You're a mine of info and I'm sure otherviewers value your detail and suggestions as much as i do, cheers.
Love this! Pizza base! , no expense.
Love this print and how you take the old technique that usually results in rather loose or messy prints to another level of sophistication! You are top notch. Again, thank you for your amazing channel and ideas.
Cheers Susan, poly is great for pattern work : )
That was brilliant 👏 Just the kind of project I need to get acclimated to printing again since it has been...ummm...35 years?! The pattern was lovely and I really admire the repurposing of household packaging otherwise headed for the landfill or incinerator (or stuck in my shrubbery from the last windstorm).
Let me know how it goes, definitely fun to get back into printing : )
The link I just shared is for a video demonstrating a roller ruler. I only just discovered its existence a week ago and I'm 61. My jaw dropped. It's such a time saver for exactly the kind of stuff you're measuring out here. By the way, great fan.
I've used one, years ago, but not got one. Good job I still believe in Santa : )
Love the intro😍…Actually very doable and effective 🤣 and the result is a gorgeous 🤩
It really is straightforward!! ::)
Great ! Shows you can make lovely art with humble materials. See that the white lines add a lot of interest ! Thanks.
Indeed! A pleasure to share : )
Love this! Have been trying to figure out how to make styrofoam prints that look like an adult made them. Bravo!
So many useful tips! Love how this came out. I think I'd have to use carbon paper and then an old biro or ball stylus as I"d get carried away with the stabby stabby 🤣
Don’t use anything too blunt, you’ll go straight through it!
this is cool, keep them coming, sometimes simple is best....!
Indeed : )
So cool! Really love your videos - and your art!
Cheers, very sweet : )
Craft foam from £1 shops or craft supply chains works as well for printing if you can’t get hold of these polystyrene sheets as they’re now being phased out. The craft foam is not as fragile as polystyrene so better for use if you’re working with children. I used a a ball point pen to make marks & the ink leaves a residue acting like a resist making the printing even clearer. I used a small amount of acrylic paint as I didn’t want to buy printing ink & it worked really well.
Gorgeous!
Cheers deb
Gosh blast from the past my folks had wall paper that kind of colourings and tessalated geometric design in the 70s😂 However lovely to see you don't need a lot of expensive equipment to make prints
Long live the 70s!!!!!!
Great technique!
Cheers Marilyn, sometimes you just need to keep it simple!!!
Lovely project, great tips! I learned some new tricks. When I do styrofoam prints, I use a toothpick or a metal awl to incise my design. Both work very well.
a toothpick......I love it, I'll try it!
Wonderful, like it 👍 and like to see more of this technic 🙏
Done deal!!! I'll make a note and do some more : )
Very nice! I wonder if a similar process could be developed for the gel plate…
I am thinking that too.
There is, but this way is quicker I think. I’ll make vid to demo :)
@@yeatesmakes could you combine collograph, intaglio, gel printing and polystyrene printing? Awesome, yes?
Lovely!
: )
Great idea, what a beautiful pattern. Thanks for showing what you can make with a 10cm grid. It might be an idea to glue 2 parts polystyrene together for more sturdiness? Great video, thank you!
good idea for reinforcing poly plate... thanks for support : )
Nice animation 🙂
Cheers, was a bit of fun : )
Hey Mark, just wanted to jump on and mention a video I just came across and thought might interest you. The woman who I saw present it was Lucy Locks and I think it was titled 'the New Lino' ...or something like that, but the woman she was working from was Hannah Jensen. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy 😉 it.
I checked it out, thanks, very interesting. I'll plug her channel in a future video and see if we can get her some more attention - she definitely deserves it will all the interesting stuff she's doing : )
Thank you 😊
Forgot to say that the double thick "fun foam" can be used similarly with the piercing technique to create marks and lines. Did a bit of that for a holiday card using two blocks.
I'll investigate the fun foam! Cheers for suggestion
Now I have two project to do from your channel.
Only two? 🧐 He has so many!
This is good news!
@@TheSDJan lol he does I can spend mo trying to get good at all he does hell years
You are amazing!!! I love your videos. I know I saw one using alcohol ink and gel,plate but now I can’t find it. Can you help me?
Can’t take credit for that video! Some in the comments might be able to point you to a vid on another channel..
A-Ha! Now I know what to do with all those fussy quilt block, piecing books that are too exhausting to sew!
Cool : ) !
Tada❣️❣️❣️…
Lol !!! Cheers Laila