Stamp Making

final, originally uploaded by Rymann.

Here's my first attempt carving a stamp on something other than an eraser using something other than an X-acto knife. The top image is the final product. Progress shots are included below.

1. O.K. so I gathered together all my supplies: Speedball lino cutter, Soft-Kut, cutting mat, pencil, and mirror image (reduced to planned size). Note: If you draw onto your cutting medium, be it eraser, lino, whatever, you would want to create a mirror image of what you wanted to stamp. However, I didn't think through the transfer process. If you transfer an image, you want the image to be oriented as you would like the stamp, because when you transfer it, it will be a mirror image. I hadn't thought that through prior to starting.


2. For a great visual tutorial on stamp carving look at inky squid's flickr set. I basically colored all the lines in my image with graphite. I used a sketch pencil, but I think any pencil would work. These are the parts of the image that will be transfered. I leave the lines and cut out the empty space. Some people may prefer to do it differently. Once all the lines are covered, place the image (face down) on your cutting medium. Then use a bone folder or spoon (this is what I did) and burnish (rub) the back of the entire image. I honestly did not expect this to work. I sort of half-heartedly rubbed the back of the image and it still worked great. I had considered an acetone transfer but that just seemed to messy for this application.


3. This is a test stamp following the initial carving. I actually liked the "woodcut" look of this, but had plans for something cleaner. So, I kept carving. Because the soft-kut is so flexible, you have to be careful not to press too hard as this will result in lots of the deeper cuts coming through. I place a flat object on the back to get some nice, even pressure.


4. Here is my sheet of test stamps. The process goes a little something like this. Cut, cut, cut...pause...cut. Stamp. Cut, cut, cut...pause...cut. Stamp. And on until you have the look you want.

Last Batch

Last Batch, originally uploaded by Rymann.

Well, I think this will be the last batch of zines to go out (except for those of you have already made arrangements and some swaps that are in the works). I might see if any of the distros would consider selling it. Thanks to everyone who contacted me and all the great feedback. I really appreciate it.

mini excavator

mini excavator, originally uploaded by Rymann.

I've been making too many excuses lately. In my defense though, I have been preoccupied with my zine. Diane at the craftypod recently posted some wonderfully kind words about my zine. Check out the craftypod podcast. Its so full of useful and interesting information.

Anyone in the Portland area? Hope to see you at the Portland Zine Symposium.

more zines

more zines, originally uploaded by Rymann.

I've been pretty preoccupied with developing new combinations to decorate envelopes I feel like it has been ages since I actually sat down to draw.

Here is the latest batch, ready to go.

Get a copy of my first ZINE here...

loco

loco, originally uploaded by Rymann.

Just received this little package of goodies from locowhiteboy. Contents included a couple sweet motorcycle drawings colored with copic markers. A sticker and patch with my new flickr avatar, all contained in a drawn on collaged envelope. Thanks loco!

Click on the image to see notes at flickr.

More Envelopes

More Envelopes, originally uploaded by Rymann.

Making these has been pretty fun. I found the right size envelope, peeled it apart scanned it, drew an outline, then printed on the same kraft paper I'm using for my zine. I have to cut them out by hand, which is actually pretty therapeutic.

I splurged and bought a couple of new colors of ink. These were all decorated using my hand-carved eraser stamps. Which one do you like best?

Constructin Equipment Guide Zine

Constructin Equipment Guide Zine, originally uploaded by Rymann.

Well, I've finally compile my first zine. More of a zinelet really given its small size and weight. It's a 1/4 size booklet printed on 10 pages of dark brown (kraft) paper. It includes all my construction equipment drawings I've completed lately.