i love art: stamp carving

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I'm guessing you may have lino-cut an image for a print-making assignment 'round about junior high?  If that was the last time you used a 'v' cutter than you are missing out!  Carving stamps is easy, addictive, and an inexpensive way to customize art-making tools.  It's a great way to embrace "make it your own", one of my favorite mantras.  Designing and cutting your own images leads to art that is clever, authentic and personal.  I always have slabs or scraps of safety-cut material on my studio table to help me out in a pinch.  You can spend hours on a large and/or intricate piece like the first one I show, or whip out a few quickies like in the last sample.  Here's the thing – I've only the used the time-consuming one a few times, but the little trees have been used over and over.  Haven't tried your hand at carving yet?  I have a tutorial you can visit – maybe you'll take the plunge.

 

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Visit the stamp carving tutorial by clicking on the TUTORIAL button in right sidebar, or click HERE.

Comments

13 responses to “i love art: stamp carving”

  1. Katherine Avatar

    Damn nice job Michelle!!!
    *winking*

  2. teri Avatar

    I hope you’ll be teaching some of this with LP in April. Can’t wait!

  3. lyle Baxter Avatar

    good morning! hope you werent overwhelmed with snow! Anne Bagby got me hooked on stamp carving. I’m addicted. you can carve away your worries by the hour or as you say whip up a little “just for this spot” one in a few minutes. I still have your directions for mounting the stamps from several years ago! sometimes I do and sometimes not! Anne challenged me last spring in Conn. to carve a 12×12. I’ve done 2 and will be on another one soon. great for backgrounds!I am enjoying your current series of posts! thanks

  4. Kim Mailhot Avatar

    Ah, Michelle ! You are so inspiring ! I learned how valuable and satisfying it is to create our own tools to use in your art work from you. How it makes it all your own and how you develop your own language that comes through in the tools and gets transfered to the pieces you use them in. I love that !
    Thanks for re-sharing all these great Michelle Ward bits !

  5. Carrie Avatar

    Carving stamps is awesome. It’s so satisfying! Though I do have a design that I’m having trouble cutting cleanly. Your stamps always look fabulous, though.

  6. Chris Avatar

    That actually IS that last time I used one of those carving thingies. I have used blade on rubber eraser, and scissor on plastic, but I haven’t gotten my lino kit out and I am surprised you told everyone. I’m hurt and I feel really silly now.
    HAAHahaaahaha! i feel silly. HA!
    Dear Michelle; I’ll try to behave better next comment.
    Your images are so pretty and your stamps rock, and I have about a million of them so I know.
    C

  7. michelleward Avatar

    thanks katherine. *winking back*

  8. michelleward Avatar

    teri, count on it! looking forward to meeting you!

  9. michelleward Avatar

    lyle, anne is the best! love hearing that you’ve taken on the big ones. there is something so mesmerizing and relaxing about carving. keep at it!

  10. michelleward Avatar

    kim, love hearing that you soaked up that trick about having your own tools to put a personal spin on EVERYTHING. xo

  11. michelleward Avatar

    thanks carrie. keep at it! the little blunders make it look artist-made, not manufactured.

  12. Margie Avatar
    Margie

    Hi Carrie have you tried sharpening you gouge. The replacement blades offen need to be sharpened before use. You can also sharpen you exacto blades.

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