Carved linoleum blocks are great for making Paintstik rubbings, but sometimes we want an image that is a little more subtle. No problem. Grab a foam dauber (or a stiff stencil brush) and you’ll make ‘shadow’ rubbings in no time.
As I mentioned last week, I was doing some Paintstik rubbing experiments with my carved lino blocks. When I got to the 4th carved block, I liked the image, but I wanted something a little softer.
I was working with a small carved lino block and an Iridescent Sapphire Paintstik.
Here is the rubbing using the Paintstik directly on the fabric. It’s a nice image, but not quite what I had in mind. So I rummaged through one of my tool baskets until I found one of my favorite homemade daubers.
Using the dauber to rub the Paintstik color on the fabric, gave it a totally different look – very soft, subtle and “shadowy.” Nice! To add a little bit of life to the piece, I added a few additional rubbings with Iridescent Turquoise.
If you don’t have a dauber handy, you can get a very similar “shadow” effect with a stiff stencil brush. When you use a dauber or brush, you apply a LOT less paint to your fabric, and you get the softer effect. Here’s a neat sample by reader Linda Clark:
Linda put a stencil on top of her fabric, placed the fabric over a textured surface, and then added the Paintstik color with a brush. You can do the same thing with a dauber; both tools will give that soft, shadowy look.
If you want to read more about Linda’s brush rubbing adventures, check out these entries in the Blog:
No More Boring Boarders and Linda Clark’s Terrific Texture Hunt
Have fun with your Paintstik rubbings. We’ll be back to linoleum prints in a few weeks. (I’m taking a short break after Quilt Market — it’s pretty tough to write newsletters and talk to customers at Market at the same time.)
I’m so in love with the linoleum blocks and the shadow rubbings! Just fabulous!!
Can’t wait to try, but I don’t have tools for cutting the block
Loved the softer look the dauber gives
Two in one. I love it and will try it.