Castlemania!

[Bev]

Now that I am back from my break in the Yorkshire Dales, I've decided to get cracking on with some Gocco printing! After seeing Sophie's cute prints of a little satellite hovering through sparkling space, I've decided to do... Castles!!


The original drawing was done on an A6 grid paper provided with the Gocco, but I decided to photocopy it on plain paper as I was a bit confused whether my pen had a carbon based ink (as this was my first time using my Gocco). It is recommended that carbon ink pens or pencils should be used to draw the initial image. Printer ink and some laser printers also work.

Bulbs screwed in the lid section which is then placed in the slot above the Gocco printer.

The lid is then pressed down and the bulbs flash... the bulbs can only be used once.

Castle!

My image from the paper is burned onto the mesh screen by the heat of the bulbs.
Mesh screens can only be used once.

I inked the image with selected colours!

...and away I print!

I printed on various types of materials: postcards, gift cards, sweet paper bags, cardboard, thin brown paper... I didn't have the time to get some plain tote bags from craftwise, but I will print on some in my next batch of prints!

I also did the print on Shrink Plastic! See the results:

Result!

I might turn these little castles into magnets or brooches... The whole process of creating these prints turned out better than I expected, they are not 100% perfect which makes them individual in their own way. Some of these prints may be available at future events where the Itty Bitty Art Committee will be attending!

See you soon!

Holy Gocco Batman

A ONE and a TWO and a THREE and FOOOAR!

I have been given a chance to have a play with a Gocco machine before mine arrives from Japan. It's a great chance really to get to know how they work without having to worry about wasting precious materials (that are as well as being rare are ungodly expensive to buy, ship and get through customs).
So I drew out my little design with a high carbon pen and burnt it onto a screen using the inbuilt light box and have had a little play with printing on a few different things; Canvas tote bag, folded paper cranes, tissue paper, metallic effect paper, luggage tags, light weight paper and gift cards.

If you want one of the ten gift cards I made I'll be happy to post it to you for the small price of a postcard in return :)

Gocco Time!

I'm (Beverly) really considering in getting a Gocco at some point soon! Just been browsing on ebay for any great deals and it's a bonus if they are in great condition. It's a minature screen printing kit!

The little bits and bobs that make the screen printing tick, such as the bulbs, screens and inks are becoming a bit harder to find or the prices are a little pricey... but I can see it's worth it by some creations I've seen from other artists using the Gocco.

gocco print by Inkdesigner

gocco print by peskimo

gocco print by magic jelly

Here is a great video on how the process of screen printing on a Gocco works by Etsy Labs! After watching their video the process of Gocco printing was much simpler than I thought! Thanks Etsy Labs!





However the Gocco seems to be on it's way out, unless it could be saved by a business willing to create more Gocco and supplies (Me wish!)...

Here's an interesting site: http://www.savegocco.com/what-is-gocco/ It's all about Gocco and campaigning to save Gocco! Oh, and there's an interesting and highly amusing Japanese advert of the Gocco at the bottom of the webpage... it features puppies using the printing machine! A must see!