Take books apart – play

book arts / /

This month the Books as ART Materials class is featured and  on sale. Save $30. It was $125  now only $95. Get all the details on the workshop page.

kids books to inspire art making

Almost any book can have value as art supply or inspiration. I found the 6 books above all for just $1.00.

  • The fish book will a nice reference for drawing
  • The adult coloring book will inspire shapes and patterns
  • The Snowy Day book inspires collage with big shapes
  • I will probably take the old Trixie Belden book apart and use the pages for poems and collage

I did a whole post about the qualities that I look for in books that I use for art materials here.

I think that I enjoy the hunt for special books to use as art materials as much as I do using them for different projects.

collage words into sketchbook

Lately I have been adding collage book bits to my sketchbook. recycle old books into new art

If you want to explore was to use books and book parts to make new art then check out the Books as ART Materials class that is on sale the month of June.

There are:

  • 30 short videos
  • 18 projects
  • plenty of inspiration
  • Save $30 this month of June

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Finding your way

inspiration, mark making / /

It’s okay to pick and choose your favorite techniques. Play and experiment with any thing that inspires you.

Let go of limiting beliefs about supplies or techniques.

pastels for mark making

I like to scribble with kid’s crayons and dabble with inexpensive watercolors. I am inspired by primitive florals and faces.

scribble with crayons

Nothing seems to make linear sense, but I still seem to fill sketchbooks with marks and materials.

sketchbook linda germain

One fairly new tool that I have been playing with is a set of handmade daubers. They are very playful and expressive.

handmade daubers

I have created a quick class on how to make and use these daubers. Read all the details on the workshop page. It is only $25.

dauber marks

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Building confidence

monotype print / /

How do you build confidence in your mark making skills?

monochromatic mountains

I think keeping the skill building fun and the learning fast helps. That is one reason I like gelatin printmaking. I can lay down ink and stencils rather quickly and lots of prints quite fast.

series of gelatin prints

Add some awareness and learning and skill building happens.

Gelatin plate monotype printing is often spontaneous, intuitive and feedback can be immediate. Other forms of printmaking can require more planning and preparation.

make gelatin prints

Pull a pile of Mountain scape prints, with the tips and instructions in the online course, Monochromatic Mountains. It is on sale for the month of April, save $25, now only $50 USD. Get all the details on the workshop page.

 

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Gift of Repetition

drawings, inspiration / /

What do we gain by drawing the same thing again and again?

  • skills
  • muscle memory
  • a series of cohesive drawings

tree sketch

I can get bored with drawing the same type of images, but I see value in the process. It might even lead to mastery of a skill or subject matter.

Sometimes I get stalled by thinking that I need to vary the drawing. But I have noticed that when I give myself the space to repeat a drawing my skills improve.

tree drawing

Lately I have been drawing horses, flowers and trees. I have plenty of “bad” or less than pleasing drawings, but the value is in the process of getting the marks on the paper.

mixed media sketchbook page

For example, often the horses I draw have legs that are too short. So instead of running out of room for the legs, I  can now draw the legs first or exaggerate the length of the legs.

I like to combine a little observation and a little abstraction. I do this a lot when drawing trees. During my daily walks, I notice how branches grow off the trunk.

loose watercolor trees

Reminder, this month of April, the Monochromatic Mountains class is on sale for $50. Read all the details on the workshop page.

monochromatic mountains

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Add Mountains to your sketchbook

monotype print, sketchbook ideas / /

This month’s featured class is Monochromatic Mountains. Details on the workshop page. Save $25.

abstract Mountain scape

I have been thinking about how I could use the mountain scape techniques in other ways, beyond the layered print.

The ridge line method is a great compliment to the mixed media trees that we explored last month.

abstract landscape linda germain

I have experimented with added mountains to the background of some sketchbook pages in progress.

add ridge lines to sketchbook pages

I think it might be a quick way to add depth to a page. Above the cat is now looking off into the distance. And the tree is brought to the foreground. The tree needs to be less transparent. I did add the background mountains after the other images wherein the page. With some planning I could print the backgrounds first.

Want to add some mountain scapes to your work? Take advantage of the savings this month and join us in the online printmaking class, Monochromatic Mountains.

 

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