SilkPrint Pen for the 4th of July

[Bob in SF]

My Dad wisely told us in our youth that "America was invented on July 4th - so honor it by staying inventive".

My humble offering in the spirit of invention - SilkPrint Pen(s) - steps:
Colored pencil/pastel drawing on paper, scan into Photoshop for some refinement.
Stretch 8mm Habotai silk onto a frame, coat thinly with Mod Podge and laminate onto parchment paper, let dry overnight, cut down to 8.5x11" size.
Print the image onto the silk/paper laminate (I use a fairly inexpensive Canon Pixma iX6820 inkjet printer)
Blow dry the ink (cool or warm setting)
Coat the face of the print with a thin layer of Mod Podge - let dry overnight.
Peel the silk off the parchment paper backing.
Cut silk strips to size, then glue them to 150 grit-sanded brass tubes with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
Dry the tubes overnight, then trim excess silk off the ends.
Dab on some mica powders for extra "pop".
Cast tube-in (I use Douglas and Sturgess PR)
Mill, turn, finish, and assemble as usual.
(opens up some interesting possibilities):

Happy 4th - have fun, be safe, and stay inventive.

- Bob

 

[vtgaryw]

That is a stunning result! Very creative. Thanks for sharing your method. Doubt I'd ever try it, but every new technique I see gets filed away and may help in some future project.

Very nice!

Gary

 

[Bob in SF]

Many thanks, Gary.

 

[liljohn1368]

That looks really nice Bob. You never cease to amaze us.

 

[Bob in SF]

Thanks, JP!

 

[OZturner]

Thanks for Sharing Bob, and Thanks for your Dad's wise words and for your Application.
Well Explained.
Congratulations,
Brian.

 

[Bob in SF]

Heartfelt thanks for your kind words, Brian.

 

[Bob in SF]

Fun week of creating penward-bound art work since the initial SilkPrint pen has made its way into the world.

Here's the gallery of pen-bearing paintings - each started as a pastel pencil and hand rubbed pastel painting, then spray-fixed with Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear Spray; scanned into the computer, enhanced with some custom brushes which I've made over the years in Photoshop, then inkjet printed onto the Habotai silk/parchment laminate described above; Mod Podge (gloss)-coated; ready to delaminate and turn into pens (great fun using silk as art medium to translate paintings to pens - each painting should yield 14 pens):

Happy Wednesday - Bob