Drawing as meditation – trees

combined techniques, drawings, inspiration / /

Drawing can be more than the end product of a pleasing picture.  It can be a meditation.

loose watercolor trees

I like to keep it simple. Fall is a great time to notice the changing trees.  The observation and meditation begins outside of the studio. I like to take pictures, and then reference them back in the studio for drawings and prints.

Trees are for inspiration

Trees can be a foundation for other kinds of marks and imageries, like birds and backgrounds and mountains.

You can use a combination of very simple materials to create tree like images. One of my favorites loose watercolors.

Loose watercolors are another fun way to make trees

You can create lovely abstract trees with the gelatin plate and ink. I like to combine those marks with collaged trees and painted birds.

Torn trees gel plate monotype print

It is fun to get up close and noticed the textures of the tree bark. You can find animals and plants that make these trees their home.

beautiful decaying tree

I sometimes just draw a bunch of trees to get started in a page in my sketchbook.

Tree sketch linda germain

If you would like to explore making trees with the gelatin plate, and other materials, then check out the details in the online class Torn Trees. It is the sale class for the month of September.

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ART as healing activity

inspiration / /

Do you use your art as a healing activity? What does that look like?

Magazine collage

Does it mean making marks without judgment? Does it mean discovering things that you can’t say with words but only through mark making and images?

Emotions, Mandela collage

Do you need to have a guide or therapist or a teacher? Can you trust yourself to do the discovery on your own?

I think the process of making something is the healing activity. It may not be important to interpret or give special meaning to the product.

Bowl of sketchbook prompts

I have tried some art therapy type assignments, and found that they were not especially useful to me. I find if I tweak a project to my own supplies, skills or interest, it has more impact for me.

One challenge that I have is to trust myself and to enjoy the process without judging it. I think that is a skill that is worth developing.

What if I make mud? What if I make the same marks over and over again? Is that valid? Is that important? I try to remember that it is about the process. And let that be good enough.

celebrate sunshine

Check out the online classes that are available to you now.

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Listen to art classes

inspiration / /

I love to have art podcasts or lessons, playing in the background while I work.

collage words

I don’t really listen or pay attention, but it just feels like having somebody else in the studio with me. It can be replaying a class that I took many years ago or it could be listening to a brand new podcast.

trees as subject matter for art making

Some of the artists that I listen to are:

I can listen to  a class over and over as I move around the studio. Sometimes I am inspired by a technique or subject matter. Other times I just laugh along with the presenter or other wise enjoy the discussion.

If you are looking for a new class to inspire your daily art making then check out some of my classes that are available now. Enjoy!

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Finding inspiration for your sketchbook

inspiration, mark making, sketchbook ideas / /

It can be a challenge to find new inspiration for your daily sketchbook practice. I have use the following ideas to inspire my sketchbook practice:

  • Twigs from nature
  • Photographs from my phone
  • Drawing and painting ideas from other classes that I’ve taken
  • Pinterest boards
  • A mirror and self portraits
  • Old drawings in old sketchbooks
  • Colors swatching new materials
  • Making borders with hand made stamps
  • Writing to do lists or wishlists

Sketchbook drawings

And maybe the habits that I use in my sketchbook do not have to be new special or wonderful. The sketchbook practice is for to generate ideas and imagery. It is also a place to create with just a few guidelines and not many restrictions.

If you are interested in learning some new sketchbook habits, then checkout, Creating Habits Workshop. There you will learn 20 new habits through 27 short videos. READ all details on the workshop page.

Handmade sketchbooks

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Make simple layered Landscapes

monotype print / /

The sale class for this month is Monochromatic Mountainscapes.

monochromatic mountains

This class is lessons with 16 short videos. You will ink and torn stencils to create lovely landscapes.  You will learn a lot about value and division of space to create strong interesting impressions.

moon and mountains print

For the month of July you can save $30. The class was $75 and now it’s only $45. Read all the details on the workshop page.

This class will:

  • Help you get back to basics.
  • Show you how to make some predictable marks
  • And how to embrace, unpredictable surprising impressions as well.

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