Fun with Books

book arts, collage, inspiration / /

I have been exploring ways to use books and book parts as art materials. (This Months featured class – On sale save $30 – now only $95)

book pages and cloth as collage materials

Above I used part of a black out poem and book cloth and book pages for collage.

hunting for books to take apart

I love hunting for books with special qualities. I like the large font of children’s books. I am lucky to have a great thrift store close by that sells 6 books for just $1.00.

spine cover with book pages

Today I borrowed the spine cover idea from one of the 18 projects in the Books as Art Materials class for my current sketchbook. These signatures are worked up separately and then glued together.  The book page spine cover will give it a nice finish.

Black out poems from book pages

Black out poems are always fun and an easy way to get started.  Sometimes I cut them up and use them as collage bits.

drawing reference

Lastly I am inspired by images in books. I love finding new ways to draw trees. So take advantage of the June sale and enjoy the 18 projects in Book as ART Materials. Get all the details on the workshop page.

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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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