Rubber stamping, also called stamping is a technique very often used in Mail-Art. Share your works, techniques and thoughts here. Also sometimes news from the largest Rubberstamp Archive that started in 1983.
self expression is very addictive and natural at the same time, I believe that as night dreams are the elaboration of our daily activities, our art is the same,a real-time reading of ourselves that cannot be renounced...
I glue rubber unmounted rubber stamps on a piece of mouse pad cutted same shape.... (the foam in contact with the rubber) So they are easier to store in numbered cutted shoe boxes...(I have a notebook with picture of the rubber stamp and number of box in which to find it...)
These are all great and, Amo, try using chops - I use both the chops themselves and the offcuts the chop-makers sell sometimes. The other things which work well are Zinga game pieces (they're solid wood but lightweight) and removing the rubber designs off of cheap alphabet stamps made of wood. Just some of the hundreds of things I've used to mount stamps over the years! ;)
Love your system Linda. :D
I stamp images of the stamps I make in these notebooks for artists which are sold at some art stores. They are made with acid-free archival paper and each page has a lined and an unlined section. I stamp the images onto the unlined part and then write notes about the stamps (when I made them or revised them, what materials I used if it's not obvious, where I purchased it, what inspired it, etc) in the lined section. That way I can just leaf through any time I want to see what I've got.
The stamps themselves I keep in shallow 'trays' made of either cardboard (the boxes that various papers and labels come in are great) or plastic (shadow box frames where I've removed the board sections are the best as they are clear and very sturdy). I layer these inside of lateral print files. I sometimes print a likeness of the stamp on the back of the stamp but not as often as I wish I did. ;)
LOL - No I meant check out his page here at IUOMA. ;) Oh, all right, here's a link: Carlos Botana's Page at IUOMA The mermaid call is right in the middle of his page.
Original eraser carved stamp by Los Spiegelman (USA) which he made and donated to the TAM Rubberstamp Archive. Like most original rubber I use it now and then to keep their condition optimal.
Yes, replacing carving blades is needed on a regular basis. The sharper, the better you can carve. You have to see what the local art stores or building stores offer. There is a lot of variety in blades. The good ones you will discover for sure hopefully at the right price.
To keep the rubber O.K. I keep stamping all kinds of rubberstamps from the TAM Rubberstamp Archive on envelopes and when they get full they go out into the network mostly with some new stampsheets in it too. This way the images also are spread across the globe.....
Look at these lovely Stempelen which came in the mail today! No, not a grand mail art gift, I bought them online! Any tips on how to mount them, I haven't done it before. Any info would help!
Hi Vizma.... I have many rubber stamps, I buy they unmounted (so they cost less in shipping too) and then I glue a piece of old mousepad, cutted same shape.... (you glue the back of the rubber stamp on the soft side. Then I store them in a plastic pockets ring binder, (plastic sheet with many pockets such as for postcards or trading cards) ....ciao
For unmounted rubber stamps -- I trim them neatly around the edges of the rubber.
for a re-usable mount I like to use "Eileen's Tack it over and over" - (available in the U.S.) it's like a white glue that is painted on the back of the rubber and stays tacky. OR double stick tape is great also. I store them on old plastic coated photo album sheets or in CD cases. When using the stamps I stick them to something flat... the top side of a wood mounted stamp or an acrylic block works great.
Linda and Lindy, I used the advice from both of your comments and they work really well!
I chopped up a mouse pad and used a thick foam double-sided tape to stick it on. I used stickers to put the image on the back, but that's no good, they just peel off. I lined the shelf with acetate, (I had paper but that would dry them out, I'm guessing) and have stored them in these very handy little drawers. (Which I MADE a retired dentist give me!!!)
Vizma, I'm jealous of your drawers! (drawers& rubber stamps) :-) Talking with rubber friends is inspiring.... this will be a rubber carving saturday.....
the afternon was unsuccessful... Where did I mistake? I think I used a lino square too old. The ink does not grip on it. Awful result! I tried with endorsing ink and then with water based colours but the surface is too stiff.... I am so low skilled :-(
Linda, I haven't been called a rubber friend before! Ha ha!
At art school when I did lino printing, we used to heat the lino with a hair dryer to soften it up, maybe that will help? I'm with Angie, I like it too.
Wow! Lancillotto, your stamps are so impressive!! How big are they? Are they made of erasers or lino? I'd love to see a photo of the stamp!
Hi Vizma, they're hand carved - more or less, they are 5 X 4 cm. - I used, and still I use, a sort of green rubber called ADIGRAPH - I did over 200 small portraits of great painters, poets and so on,...... and I carve them using the little tools you see in the picture ^...
You are the champion of rubber stamps! It's so lovely to see these details of your work and workspace. Your work reminds me of 1940s German Expressionists and Kandinsky and Kokoschka. Thankyou so much for putting up these pictures!
I haven't heard of Adigraph, but it looks a bit like dental silicon, ? it's probably harder. I've been using a super sharp scalpel on rubber and picking out the cut-off waste with tweezers! So much to learn...thanks for inspiring me friend!
If you are looking to do more carving, you would be best to find lino carving tools (they so much nicer/easier to use than scalpels). Speedball is one company that makes them and they are usually reasonably priced. If you have an art supply store nearby you could find them there. Some hardware stores carry carving gauges for wood which also work well on rubber if the tools are sharp.There are lots of online places that sell them as well, though I don't know what's available to you in your part of the world.
I love this group, everyone has been so nice and is full of rubber wisdom!
I do actually have some lino cutting tools in a shed somewhere, probably very rusty, but I'll sandpaper them clean, oil them and they should be good to go.
Now to look into the cutting-into stuff!
Hey Stewart, will we be seeing some of your stamps?? ;-)
good luck! carving is very addictive but relaxing and full of satisfaction, do not use wrong inks or wrong lino and you will succeeed....(dont leave fingers in front of cutting tools while carving)
lino = linoleum, as in the traditional way, or rubber is very good material.... I said wrong ink because I had a wrong result because the linoleum was too old so stiff and ink didn't grip on it. There are typographic inks a little bit sticky but perhaps carving normal rubber (such as eraser) you can use endorsing ink as well...
Carla Cryptic
Wonderful to see your first stamps, Cathérine! I know that feeling Linda. lol
I used to grab anything and everything I could put a carving knife or a linoleum cutter or a veiner into! Just don't cut yourself. ;)
Jul 15, 2011
Linda Pelati
Jul 15, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Jul 15, 2011
Michael Leigh
Jul 16, 2011
Michael Leigh
Jul 16, 2011
Mao Huan (lazybunny)
Jul 16, 2011
Linda Pelati
Jul 16, 2011
Carla Cryptic
These are all great and, Amo, try using chops - I use both the chops themselves and the offcuts the chop-makers sell sometimes. The other things which work well are Zinga game pieces (they're solid wood but lightweight) and removing the rubber designs off of cheap alphabet stamps made of wood. Just some of the hundreds of things I've used to mount stamps over the years! ;)
Love your system Linda. :D
I stamp images of the stamps I make in these notebooks for artists which are sold at some art stores. They are made with acid-free archival paper and each page has a lined and an unlined section. I stamp the images onto the unlined part and then write notes about the stamps (when I made them or revised them, what materials I used if it's not obvious, where I purchased it, what inspired it, etc) in the lined section. That way I can just leaf through any time I want to see what I've got.
The stamps themselves I keep in shallow 'trays' made of either cardboard (the boxes that various papers and labels come in are great) or plastic (shadow box frames where I've removed the board sections are the best as they are clear and very sturdy). I layer these inside of lateral print files. I sometimes print a likeness of the stamp on the back of the stamp but not as often as I wish I did. ;)
Here are pix:
Drawer view 1
Drawer View 2
Jul 16, 2011
Carla Cryptic
BTW, Linda, one thing I really like about your mousepad idea is that it allows you to maintain some flexibility while stamping. That's a great thing.
Jul 16, 2011
Mao Huan (lazybunny)
Jul 17, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Jul 17, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Jul 22, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Jul 25, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Jul 29, 2011
Poison Label Productions
made a new cut today & used it for Tag ur it! 2.0
hope you like
Sep 15, 2011
Carla Cryptic
Cool!
Sep 15, 2011
Ruud Janssen
Oct 19, 2011
Ruud Janssen
Original eraser carved stamp by Los Spiegelman (USA) which he made and donated to the TAM Rubberstamp Archive. Like most original rubber I use it now and then to keep their condition optimal.
Oct 26, 2011
Ruud Janssen
One of my own creation that is used again after a decade or so.
Oct 26, 2011
Ruud Janssen
Yes, replacing carving blades is needed on a regular basis. The sharper, the better you can carve. You have to see what the local art stores or building stores offer. There is a lot of variety in blades. The good ones you will discover for sure hopefully at the right price.
Nov 24, 2011
Ruud Janssen
To keep the rubber O.K. I keep stamping all kinds of rubberstamps from the TAM Rubberstamp Archive on envelopes and when they get full they go out into the network mostly with some new stampsheets in it too. This way the images also are spread across the globe.....
Nov 24, 2011
Ruud Janssen
Nov 24, 2011
Lancillotto Bellini
Four carvings of mine...
Nov 24, 2011
Lancillotto Bellini
Portrait of F.B. ...
Nov 30, 2011
vizma bruns
Dec 19, 2011
Linda Pelati
Hi Vizma.... I have many rubber stamps, I buy they unmounted (so they cost less in shipping too) and then I glue a piece of old mousepad, cutted same shape.... (you glue the back of the rubber stamp on the soft side. Then I store them in a plastic pockets ring binder, (plastic sheet with many pockets such as for postcards or trading cards) ....ciao
Dec 19, 2011
Lindy Marglon
For unmounted rubber stamps -- I trim them neatly around the edges of the rubber.
for a re-usable mount I like to use "Eileen's Tack it over and over" - (available in the U.S.) it's like a white glue that is painted on the back of the rubber and stays tacky. OR double stick tape is great also. I store them on old plastic coated photo album sheets or in CD cases. When using the stamps I stick them to something flat... the top side of a wood mounted stamp or an acrylic block works great.
Dec 19, 2011
vizma bruns
Thanks so much for your quick responses Linda and Lindy!
I'll start experimenting on the ugly ones until I get it right! I'll keep you posted...cheers!
Dec 20, 2011
Ruud Janssen
Dec 20, 2011
vizma bruns
I chopped up a mouse pad and used a thick foam double-sided tape to stick it on. I used stickers to put the image on the back, but that's no good, they just peel off. I lined the shelf with acetate, (I had paper but that would dry them out, I'm guessing) and have stored them in these very handy little drawers. (Which I MADE a retired dentist give me!!!)
Thanks again for your help!
Jan 7, 2012
vizma bruns
Jan 7, 2012
Linda Pelati
Vizma, I'm jealous of your drawers! (drawers& rubber stamps) :-) Talking with rubber friends is inspiring.... this will be a rubber carving saturday.....
Jan 7, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Jan 7, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Jan 7, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Jan 7, 2012
Ruud Janssen
Jan 7, 2012
Linda Pelati
the afternon was unsuccessful... Where did I mistake? I think I used a lino square too old. The ink does not grip on it. Awful result! I tried with endorsing ink and then with water based colours but the surface is too stiff.... I am so low skilled :-(
Jan 7, 2012
Linda Pelati
I would like it too... if only the colour would sticks on the linocut. The print in the photo is the only decorous over endless attemps....
Jan 7, 2012
vizma bruns
Linda, I haven't been called a rubber friend before! Ha ha!
At art school when I did lino printing, we used to heat the lino with a hair dryer to soften it up, maybe that will help? I'm with Angie, I like it too.
Wow! Lancillotto, your stamps are so impressive!! How big are they? Are they made of erasers or lino? I'd love to see a photo of the stamp!
Jan 8, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Hi Vizma, they're hand carved - more or less, they are 5 X 4 cm. - I used, and still I use, a sort of green rubber called ADIGRAPH - I did over 200 small portraits of great painters, poets and so on,...
... and I carve them using the little tools you see in the picture ^...
All the best!
Jan 9, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Have a nice day...
Jan 9, 2012
Lancillotto Bellini
Jan 9, 2012
vizma bruns
Lancillotto!
You are the champion of rubber stamps! It's so lovely to see these details of your work and workspace. Your work reminds me of 1940s German Expressionists and Kandinsky and Kokoschka. Thankyou so much for putting up these pictures!
I haven't heard of Adigraph, but it looks a bit like dental silicon, ? it's probably harder. I've been using a super sharp scalpel on rubber and picking out the cut-off waste with tweezers! So much to learn...thanks for inspiring me friend!
This last photo is great!
Jan 9, 2012
stewart charlebois
Hey Vizma,
If you are looking to do more carving, you would be best to find lino carving tools (they so much nicer/easier to use than scalpels). Speedball is one company that makes them and they are usually reasonably priced. If you have an art supply store nearby you could find them there. Some hardware stores carry carving gauges for wood which also work well on rubber if the tools are sharp.There are lots of online places that sell them as well, though I don't know what's available to you in your part of the world.
Jan 9, 2012
vizma bruns
Thanks Stewart!
I love this group, everyone has been so nice and is full of rubber wisdom!
I do actually have some lino cutting tools in a shed somewhere, probably very rusty, but I'll sandpaper them clean, oil them and they should be good to go.
Now to look into the cutting-into stuff!
Hey Stewart, will we be seeing some of your stamps?? ;-)
Jan 10, 2012
Daniel Wayne Qualls (BEAR)
Jan 15, 2012
Linda Pelati
good luck! carving is very addictive but relaxing and full of satisfaction, do not use wrong inks or wrong lino and you will succeeed....(dont leave fingers in front of cutting tools while carving)
Jan 15, 2012
Daniel Wayne Qualls (BEAR)
Jan 15, 2012
Linda Pelati
lino = linoleum, as in the traditional way, or rubber is very good material.... I said wrong ink because I had a wrong result because the linoleum was too old so stiff and ink didn't grip on it. There are typographic inks a little bit sticky but perhaps carving normal rubber (such as eraser) you can use endorsing ink as well...
Jan 15, 2012
Daniel Wayne Qualls (BEAR)
Jan 15, 2012