Book rubbings

"Book Purse" front

"Book Purse" -  

The photos on the left are from my web site on page 44 of the Power Point of Textile prints that I used to make. The piece called "Book Purse" was in a National Fiber Arts show. I don't have it any more.
Back in the 1980s, I went to the Hamburg Historical Society's Museum with some screens and crayola crayons; I made  book rubbings from their collection of antique, embossed book covers. The three in this piece are The Works of George Elliot on the front (complete with her portrait) and Dickens (another portrait) and Pope. I liked the look of these and also made designs of borders that would complete the purse.

STENCILS MADE WITH RUBBINGS

            Any textured surface can be used to create  stencils that capture the texture of the original surface. I often use antique, embossed book covers, dried flowers and leaves, ribbon and laces, coins and wood.

            The screen is placed over the surface to be used. It is important to have a comfortable grip on the screen with one hand. Then with the other hand use a crayola crayon to make the rubbing directly on the screen. Don’t let the screen move, or you will have a double image.

            The crayola will act as a blockout to the water base ink. The image will be the color of the paper and the area around it will be the color of the ink.

            It is necessary to have a border of blockout around the rubbing. An open area on the screen can be made first and the rubbing can be done in it. To reverse the print - to print the image rather than the background - screen filler can be spread over all. When it is dry the crayola can be removed with paint thinner.

            When I use antique books, I cover them tightly with saran wrap to keep the crayon from getting on them. Dried flowers and leaves should not be too dry and brittle as they would crumble when rubbed.

            After printing, clean the ink off with cold water. The crayon rubbing will stay on the screen. When cleaning the rubbing from the screen use hot water and a strong cleaner to remove the crayola. Or you can clean the crayola from the screen with paint thinner.

I will have more about rubbings soon as I will be teaching the technique to someone who took my last class at the Power House. She is very interested to learn about rubbings