Has anyone else here tried Gumoil?

Jerevan · May 27, 2008

Interesting video. It's kinda strange - whenever I look at people demonstrating things, it always seems so easy. I have never seen anyone doing any sort of gumoil print, so I was a bit surprised by the seemingly heavy rubbing that was done.

JimLarimer · Jun 9, 2008

I have been doing gumoils for about 3-4 months and am getting fairly nice results. I am unable to get a satisfactory second layer of oil, but I am happy with the effects with just using Van Dyke Brown or Lamp Black for my first layer followed by a 15 sec bleach. You can see my gumoils here:Guest Pass link
http://www.flickr.com/gp/92861400@N00/r4esg2

Jim Larimer
http://larimerphoto.blogspot.com

deejayNL · Jul 5, 2008

I have found out that a normal gum / bichromate ratio of 3:1 isn't thick enough for me. I have the commercially availlable liquid solution, but also made a 50% GUM SOLUTION (so 150 gram powdered gum, into 300 ml water). I now use a ratio of 2:1:1,5, meaning i use 2 parts thick gum, 1 part 'normal' gum, and 1,5 part dichromate, this is to compensate for the thicker gum, so it will get a bit more sensitive..

I still have the same problems as you guys, no details in the midtones, no real possibility for etching... but also looking further for answers

Andrew O'Neill · Nov 24, 2015

Resurrecting an old thread, did any of you have success? Are you still making gumoils? There is a woman doing some beautiful gumoils on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/anna.ostanina1?fref=nf

Everyone says to bleach the print after soaking it in water, but apparently, she doesn't bleach....

Jerevan · Nov 26, 2015

Just an aside: Look up Karena Goldfinch on Flickr, she does other stuff nowadays, but she has some pretty stunning gumoils in her stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/22267060@N04/albums/72157603812235612

Andrew O'Neill · Dec 11, 2015

This process is not easy...

glpozza · Feb 2, 2016

Andrew O'Neill said:
This process is not easy...

I would say it is more to the impossible side...

I've made a lot of tests. No image at all. The gum/dichomate produces a visible but faint image on 300g canson paper. After I spread the paint, nothing in this world will make it leave the paper. I've rubbed until the paper desintegrated, I placed in bleach, I even set the paper on fire ( I wasn't expecting this to work, I was just really annoyed by this process); I just get a black square.

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 2, 2016

My problem was that I could never get the ink to stick except for one time. But, I will give it another go because I HATE LOSING!

glpozza · Feb 3, 2016

Andrew O'Neill said:
My problem was that I could never get the ink to stick except for one time. But, I will give it another go because I HATE LOSING!

I'm happy I am not alone in this. NOW IT'S PERSONAL! I'm gonna oil the @&#$! out of that gum. Or vice versa... Not sure yet. Anyway, hope it works.

glpozza · Feb 28, 2016

No... I give up.
Until someone with good results post some insights, I'm assuming there are some parts of this process not being shared.

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 28, 2016

I'm getting the itch to try again... but not after I've completed making a portfolio of carbon prints, and some Kallitypes.

Molli · Feb 28, 2016

Jerevan said:
Just an aside: Look up Karena Goldfinch on Flickr, she does other stuff nowadays, but she has some pretty stunning gumoils in her stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/22267060@N04/albums/72157603812235612

Thank you for that link. Even a grid filled with tiny thumbnails on my phone is an impressive sight. Karena Goldfinch does incredibly inspirational work! Don't give up, would-be-gumoilers; results like that seem well worth the effort

wolfe23c · Mar 4, 2016

I have the book and I strongly believe that the book doesn't have enough information!

Jerevan · Mar 5, 2016

I've no idea - I have never tried to contact Karena for example, so I have no idea if she has any insights on the finer details.

Yes, I agree that the book is lacking - and the man behind it all passed away a few years ago.

ced · Mar 9, 2016

Here is some more of Karen's Gumoil work > To the gumoil section of her site:
http://www.karenagoldfinch.com/galleries-2/

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 13, 2016

Back at gumoil printing and getting much better results. Changes that I made to my works flow: more contrasty negative; applying sensitized gum with foam roller. Smooth, wonderful coating; longer exposure; matrix soaked in 24C water rather than 20C. I'll post a print once it has dried. It's not great but huge improvement.

ced · Mar 14, 2016

deleted

ced · Mar 14, 2016

Andrew, would love to see a print.
Do you size the paper before sensitising, do you bleach (what quantity/dilution/seconds) and how many oil applications needed to get the image as you want?

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 14, 2016

I'm using Fabriano Aristico, so sizing not necessary. I would like to try Rising Stonehenge, as I have a whack of it. Not bleaching prints. Just stick in a tray of cool water and wipe gently with wetted sponge. One application of oil paint. It's no where near what I want yet, but this is a huge improvement, and I'm getting better consistency.

ced · Mar 17, 2016

Andrew, I like the image & it looks like you are getting quite a bit of tonal range.
Would this be down to the warmer 1st wash at 24deg.?
I guess the red patch is just in the photographic reproduction here as you only used 1 colour?
Thanks again for showing

glpozza · Mar 17, 2016

Andrew O'Neill said:
I'm using Fabriano Aristico, so sizing not necessary. I would like to try Rising Stonehenge, as I have a whack of it. Not bleaching prints. Just stick in a tray of cool water and wipe gently with wetted sponge. One application of oil paint. It's no where near what I want yet, but this is a huge improvement, and I'm getting better consistency.

That's really good. You say you don't use bleach? How long after spreading the oil paint do you place it in water? Could you post a picture after the exposure (before inking)?

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 18, 2016

Ced, only used one colour. Lamp black. Big improvements with warmer development bath, contrastier negative, longer exposure. Still very contrasty result. I think that is inherit in the process.

Glpoza, as soon as oil paint wiped off I stick print in water just for a few seconds, then wipe with sponge. The I'll post a pick next week as I'm away photographing.

ced · Mar 18, 2016

Andrew, thanks. Are you using a self made gum & dilution with P-dichro. @1:3? KR!

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 18, 2016

14 baum premixed from art store. 3 parts gum 1 part 16% pot dichro. Single coat with foam roller.

ced · Mar 19, 2016

Andrew, Thanks, I'm sure others along with me would love to see any other images you make in this process.
We should open a thread on the site where images that failed (any process) and could be used to help others trying different techniques where they run into countless problems. KR!

Has anyone else here tried Gumoil?

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