Jeanne Selep's Selep Imaging Blog

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Autumn Wreath Monoprint

I created my "Autumn Oak Leaf Wreath" monoprint while playing with a collection of oak leaves that I had created because I couldn't draw an oak leaf.* (Cause and effect relationships are fun to ponder!) In fact, I created a whole series of monoprints while playing with oak leaves, but this one has turned out the best, (to date). I love the result and hope you do too!

Image 1: Autumn Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

The printmaking methods I use create an organic texture that would be nearly impossible to draw, or paint, or even predict, which is why "pulling" a print can be so exciting.

Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint texture details by Jeanne Selep

Image 2: Oak Leaf Detail showing Texture

After making the print, I hand-colored the oak leaves in using autumn colors seen more often in maple leaves. In my experience oak leaves colors in fall are mostly green to yellow (briefly) and then brown, but I wanted maple leaf like colorations on my oak leaves.

Wreath Monoprint and Ghost Print by Jeanne Selep

Image 3: Some actual Maple Leaves Fall colorations

And so my oak leaf wreath becomes a fantasy wreath, inspired by the fantastic colors maple leaves turn in fall.

Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint Ghost Print by Jeanne Selep

Image 4: Detail with Green Leaf of Hand Colored Leaves

Some definitions and notes: A monoprint is a form of printmaking where the printed image can only be made once. The transfer of (usually) hand inked surfaces, images, and/or shapes to paper will result in a unique print.

Image 5: Wreath Monoprint and Mirrored Ghost Image

If enough ink remains on a transfer surface, a second print might be able to be created (or "pulled"), but the ink will be lighter and create a noticeably different work. This second noticeably different image is sometimes called a ghost print.

Brown Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

Image 6: Brown Oak Leaf wreath Monoprint

Ghost prints can also be made as mirror images via other methods. Look closely - the two wreath monoprints shown side by side in image 5 above are basically mirror images.

I printed multiple wreaths with oak leaves. Below is another wreath monoprint I made, using 2 colors of ink. I plan on hand coloring this image in the future. The extra layers of leaves is otherwise confusing.

Image 7: Red and Brown Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

I tried multiple concept wreath arrangements before I printed the versions I am showing you today. You can see preliminary wreath layout using brown oak leaves below.

Image 8: Oak Leaf Wreath Layout 'Auditioning' leaves

Other Notes:

* I posted an Oak Leaf Monoprint post that elaborates on this story.

Individually inked leaves were pressed onto paper using a printing press. The overall print dimensions are approximately 20 inches by 20 inches high (50cm by 50cm high) on Arches paper. I framed the print in a resale shop frame that was 24inches x 24inches, (61cm x 61cm).

Image 9: Framed Autumn Oak Leaf Wreath Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

"As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see"

- Vincent Van Gogh
_________________________________________________________________

"Winter is an etching,
Spring a watercolor,
Summer an oil painting, and
Autumn a mosaic of them all"

- Horowitz

Click on the images to see them enlarged. Leave a comment if you have the time, they brighten my day!

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* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me 706 Mon 3p (l Entry 70 of 145.)
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Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead 471 Hop Wed (Entry 12 of 92.)
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Grandmas house: Grandmas 374 Wed 4p (m Entry 18 of 63.)
Always Write: Wednesday Quotes (Entry 1 of 7.)
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Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 228 Sun 3p (l Entry 92 of 138.)
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Perfect time to craft: Open Challenge (Entry 163 of 301.)
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Monday, November 6, 2023

Oak Leaf Monoprint

My love affair with trees goes back decades, and it re-surges every fall when leaves in Wisconsin explode into fall colors. Easily identifiable maple leaves were an early love, because their showy fall colors stand out. At some point I became interested in oak trees. I realized I could recognize oak leaves, but I couldn't easily draw them. I realized why when I started collecting oak leaves to draw - there is no one typical oak leaf shape.

Oak leaf shapes Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

Image 1: Oak Leaf Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

What is the shape of an oak leaf? Well, see above. Oak leaves have 5 to 10 lobed sections with pointy or rounded tips. While enjoying autumn I collected all sorts of oak leaves and dried them flat in books. Eventually I amassed a collection of dried oak leaves, and for fun I used this collection to create the large monoprint* shown above, using the many shapes and sizes of oak leaves I had found.

Image 2: So many leaves to choose from!

The diversity of oak trees leaves here in my state boggles my mind. If I drew all these oak leaf shapes people would think I took SO much artistic license, because some of these leaf shapes are so fantastic. Look at the crazy oak leaf below, how pinched the cutouts between the lobes go. It's like an animae or chibi version of an oak leaf. God or Nature creates fantastic shapes, in millions!

Image 3: Oddest Oak Leaf Shape
If hand drawn, would you believe this shape?

Arranging the oak leaves for the monoprint took a long time because I wanted to show the diversity of shapes and some of the size variations, and I found it hard to create an arrangement that seemed balanced and made sense.

Image 4: Oak Leaf Layout Auditioning leaves

Eventually I settled on the arrangement I printed below. I wanted my oak leaves to have bright fall colors, so I used the unlikely color of red ink for the print. But in reality, oak trees fall colors typically are briefly yellow then brown, and frequently the (brown) leaves stay on well into winter. A sometimes rich brown, but nothing showy like the maple trees.

Image 5: Oak Leaf Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

My monoprint is nowhere near perfect, but I achieved a print I like that reflects my interest and love of oak leaves, which I continue to gather and press.

Oak Leaf shape lobes Monoprint detail by Jeanne Selep

Image 6: Oak Leaf print close-up Detail

I love how the monoprint reveals the texture and veining in the leaves that are hard to see in the actual leaf.

oak leaf layout comparison to monoprint by Jeanne Selep

Image 7: Layout Comparison to Monoprint

(I could go on for paragraphs about finding different oak trees, collecting leaves, monoprints and printing, etc., but I will spare whatever readers are still here. Below are some how-to notes only if you are interested...)

* Notes:
A monoprint is a form of printmaking where the image can only be made once.

My process is as follows: I "auditioned" leaves in a layout before individually inking them using a roller brayer and oil based red ink. The leaves are then laid onto a smooth plate, ink face up, and Arches paper is laid over the leaves. The "sandwich" of the plate, inked leaves, paper is then run through a printing press with felt blankets that squish the paper into the inked leaves. The paper is lifted off, any leaves sticking to the paper are removed and I have my monoprint! The overall print dimensions are approximately 22 inches by 30 inches high (56cm by 76cm high).

Above is an image showing a layout concept vs. the actual print. Notice many of the leaves I ended up using are "mirror images". The large leaf in the middle is over 9 inches long, so now I look for smaller leaves when collecting leaves to dry.

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree"

- Emily Bronte
_________________________________________________________________

"Autumn is a second spring
when every leaf is a flower"

- Albert Camus

Image 8: Oak Leaf Monoprint by Jeanne Selep

(After starting this post, reflections in the photo made me need to re-photograph it. And so to make it look better, because I never liked the soft white paper floating on white cardboard framing, I re-matted this print with red matt board - Blogging can improve your art! This image shows the original print on white, not as nice. I re-purposed a resale shop picture frame, saving money and being green!)

Click on the images to see them enlarged. Leave a comment if you have the time, they brighten my day!

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Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 9 of 9.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 31 of 45.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 35 of 39.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 500 Mon 1p (l Entry 15 of 55.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 20 of 24.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 17 of 18.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 296 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 16 of 102.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 705 3p (l Entry 9 of 138.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 21 of 42.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 417 (Entry 15 of 16)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 398 Tues (m Entry 23 of 120.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 14 of 15.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 19r of 136r.) I was featured here!
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with twist 550 (l Entry 15 of 32.)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry 38 of 131.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 562 5p Tues (l Entry 2x of 118x.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 9 of 113.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 40 of 45.)
Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead Blog Hop Wed 470 (Entry 16 of 41.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 413 Wed (m Entry 10 of 105.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 373 Wed 4p (m Entry 34 of 65.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 409 Wed 1p (Entry 50 of 98.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 15 of 119.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 591 Fr 8a (L Entry 111 of 117.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 76 of 99.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 73 of 181.)
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Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 405 Th 4p (Entry 20 of 31.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 6 of 10.)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 3 of 22.)
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Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry 9 of 123.)
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Pams Party: Dare to share Fri 11p (m Entry 3 of 67.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 164 (L Entry 41 of 67.)
Shabby art boutique: Create-gather 596 (L Entry x of 117.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 171 7a (Entry 33 of 150.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 227 Sun 3p (l Entry 13 of 152.)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 595 even (l Entry 1 of 121.)
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Interesting posts found:

Fall foliage prediction map
Bryce Canyon Utah
NYC marathon
WI parks

Friday, October 20, 2023

Vintage Halloween Glassware

Vintage Halloween Pumpkin and Ghost glass Tumbler

Image 1: Vintage Halloween Pumpkin and Ghost Tumbler

Haunting estate sales, rummage sales and resale shops allows me to find occasional fun items that become family legends. I once found six of the pumpkin and ghost tumblers above. They became family favorites, used constantly year round. Some of the glasses broke, and since I can't replace them, I eventually put them out of sight and only bring the remaining two out around Halloween. I gave one of the glasses to my daughter when she got an apartment, to remind her of home and make her smile. (She insists Halloween is her favorite holiday).

Vintage halloween batty drinking glass bats

Image 2: Vintage Batty drinking glass

The batty glasses above became a favorite as well. I only found two of them. The glass is stronger, but the black bats don't hold up well in the dishwasher, and are now more of "charcoal" instead of black. I now think of the glasses as "ghost bats" - SPOOKY!

Dishwashers can "etch" glassware and wear off images, and some glasses wear much more significantly. I should have hand washed these, but the dishwasher damage has been done, and the kids still like them, so I will bring them out each year, but they will still go in the dishwasher.

Image 3: Dishwasher Damage to vintage glassware - Ghost Bats

Using vintage glassware regularly does take a toll on the glassware - Glasses break, and that's OK. Vintage glassware frequently arrives at a resale shop rarely used or unused, and "using up" a glass is a green option I like. It also teaches the kids to handle glass with more care - (maybe?).

When the kids were young, I was so happy to have matching glassware. I gleefully ditched the children's plastic as soon as they were old enough, good-bye plastic sippy cups! Then came the next battle. Every time someone wanted a drink, a new glass would be out, and on a hot day you could fill the top of the dishwasher with dozens of glasses used that day. I started trying to get the kids to use the same glass all day, which led to needing unique glasses so they could tell the glassware apart. Does this happen in other families??? So much for matching glassware!

This post is a tribute to these favorite glasses, in case they don't survive the Halloween season.