Re: [BKARTS] pasta amchine printing

[Meredith Arnold <marnold@xxxxxxxxxx>]

FYI - there are two ways to print using a pasta machine!

 One is as described by Alice using polymer clay to make the printing 
plates.

 Some more specifics on that:    Bake the polymer clay in a craft dedicated 
oven using an oven thermometer (for safety sake) at approx. 265-275 degrees 
for 30 minutes per 1/4" thickness or follow the manufacturer's instruction 
for baking. Baking higher than 300 degrees with most brands of polymer clay 
will result in creating terribly toxic fumes that you do not want to 
breathe.

 The second way is to use the pasta machine as a printing press for 
monoprinting, etc. This process entails inking or painting a carrier surface 
then sandwiching face to face with the surface to be printed. For example, 
applying paint or slow drying ink onto glossy cardstock or acetate film and 
then sandwiching that to a piece of paper (all cut to size to run thru the 
pasta machine), add some string in between the layers if you want, and then 
running the sandwich through the pasta machine. Peel the layers apart and 
you have a print. There are lots of variations on this theme including using 
resists like thermally activated embossing powders on the carrier sheet or 
the piece to be printed to create patterns before inking or after the first 
color has been run and then applying a second color, etc.

Have fun!

Meredith Arnold
Comedian Artist, Instructor and Designer
110 N. 201 St.
Shoreline, WA  98133-3012

Edmonds Community College Arts Now Instructor/Delegate to China for Sept. 
2005 Exchange
Artist Representative for Polyform Products (www.sculpey.com), a polymer 
clay manufacturer
Advisor to the Board, N.W. Polymer Clay Guild
Certified PMC instructor, certified by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply, New Mexico 
and PMC Connection, Texas

Member of:
N.W. Polymer Clay Guild, (www.nwpcg.org)
Precious Metal Clay Guild,  (www.pmclay.com)
Seattle Center Book Arts Club

> Date:    Sun, 2 Oct 2005 12:23:43 EDT
> From:    Alice Simpson <DanceMarathon1@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Printing with Pasta Maker
>
> This summer, while visiting Gloria Helfgott's Pacific Palisades, CA 
> studio,
> she showed me this technique. We spent a laugh-filled afternoon pushing 
> polymer
> clay (aka Fimo) through a pasta machine!
>
> As I recall:
> 1. Flatten a ball of polymer clay and run through pasta machine several 
> times
> until approximately 1/8 inch flat;
> 2. Cut into desired shape, then inscribe image;
> 3. Bake in an old toaster oven for a few minutes (used only for art 
> projects,
> please). Watch that it doesn't burn;
> 4. Cool;
> 5. Do NOT eat;
> 6. Ink plate;
> 7. Place wet paper atop inked plate and print on press.
>
> Always looking for something good to eat, I was eager to eat the printing
> plates, which closely resembled a cookie, but Gloria wouldn't permit it.
>
> Gloria's an expert at this technique.
> I will stick to baking pies.
> Cheers,
> Alice

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