Get the most from your drawings

drawings / /

Lately I have been using my older sketchbooks as reference for drawings in my current sketchbooks. This works well for me since I don’t love to draw and often I am searching for a subject.

photocopy drawings and add to sketchbook

In the example above I simply glued in a photocopy of the original sketch. I printed it on cream colored paper.

copy your own drawings into your current sketchbook

I this second example I drew a fresh copy of the original sketchbook entries. I am not aiming for exact duplicates, just inspired replicas.

tea bag and sharpie drawingsBut I am most excited to share with you the tea bag and sharpie process that I used above. I get 2 new “originals” for the effort of one.

  • My reference drawing is then in the middle with pink cheeks.
  • I layered and taped the tea bag to the small piece of white drawing paper.
  • Then drew the face with a black sharpie.
  • The sharpie bleeds through, with varies intensity to the white paper and
  • I get the second copy for free!

A couple of tips:

  • Use an ultra fine tip sharpie or a fine tip for bolder marks
  • Don’t pause or you will get heavy spots of ink
  • Add color after
  • Use fresh tea bag for a white drawing

Check out the current classes available online.

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Make unique fabric for your projects

fabric prints, gelatin prints on fabric, monotype print / /

I have piles of hand printed fabric. I have actually stopped making more until I use up some of what I already have.

piles of gelatin printed fabric ready for projects

I have made a few quilts and now have more quilts than I can use.

piecing together a quilt

I covered some bricks with hand printed cloth to use as book weights. I do use these quite a bit and I think 6 big book weights is  enough for my little studio.

book weights covered with fabric

I used heat-n-bond to transform some of the monoprinted fabric into book cloth. The heat-n-bond is applied to the fabric then thin rice paper is stuck to the other side. This creates a barrier so the glue does not seep through the fabric. Then I covered a few artists books.

notebook covered with gelatin printed fabric

I love composition notebooks. I covered a few with the hand printed fabric.

I love bags. I am definitely a bag lady. And yet surprisingly I have only stitched up one little shoulder bag.  I think a big beach bag may be my next project.

crossbody bag made with hand printed fabric

If  you are wanting to make some unique hand printed fabric, then check out the workshop, Monoprinted Fabric.

I am offering a 25% discount on this class for the next few weeks. It is a comprehensive class with 12 different techniques for gelatin printing on fabric.

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Try Gelatin printing on Fabric

gelatin prints on fabric / /

I first gel printed on paper and loved the detailed impressions that I was able to capture.

delicate gelatin print on paper

Then I started to experiment with printing on fabric. Quickly I realized that I needed to adjust my approach and techniques.

piles of hand printed fabric
piles of hand printed fabric

The first thing I changed was the inks. I have experimented with  a lot of inks and paints and choose to use screen printing ink.

inks for make monoprints on fabric with the gelatin plate

Another adaptation was to work on dampened fabric to encourage the transfer of ink.

make marks on fabric

Then I had to adjust my expectations and embrace the unique nature of the process.  I found that I could pick up adjunct types of marks that were not directly from the gelatin plate. I was learning  to make the most of the process.

Use gelatin printed fabric for sewing projects

That is why I put together the Monoprint Fabric, online course. It is a comprehensive class that includes 12 different techniques.

This class is for you if you want to create a stash of one of a kind fabric for your sewing projects.

make a quilt with gelatin printed fabric

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Ebb and flow of creating

inspiration / /

It has been a good summer for small boat sailing, here in New England. There are a lot of factors that affect the decision to sail:

  • the wind speed and direction
  • the timing of the tides
  • and for me whether my brothers are willing to drag the boat over the beach to the shore.sunfish sailing

Creating is like sailing. Some days are better than others, but even on a “bad” day I can find something good about it.

I do the best I can given the conditions. Sometimes:

  • It is hard to get started, but after I do start I find myself enjoying it
  • The conditions are not ideal, like the studio is 90 degrees, so I print in short bursts of time.
  • There could be factors beyond my control and I just need to take a day off from creating.

doodling in sketchbook

I have created little travel kits, so I can create at home, in my car, or at the beach. This way I increase my chances of finding the time and energy to create. I can roll with the ebb and flow of my energy.

My travel kits are nothing special, just a baggie of markers, a pen, some small stamps and a journal.sketch travel kit

I have tried the more complex sketchbook kits, with watercolors and such, but they were too much for me and I never used them. We need to try lots of options and then do what works for each of us individually.

stamps sketchbook page

I find taking an art class can help with the ebb and flow of creation. I am following a couple of classes right now. I don’t always do the lessons as assigned. I try to take what is offered and tweak it to my style.

For example, the assignment was to collage in found images, as a background.  I adjusted it and collaged in photocopies of my own images. This feels more meaningful to me.

collage in sketchbook

So I encourage you to:

  • be open to the ebb and flow of making stuff
  • try a small travel kit specific to you
  • maybe take a class and tweak the lessons to your needs

If you like self paced online classes, then check out the classes I have to offer. Enjoy!

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Phone – studio tool

inspiration / /

How many ways do you use your phone in your art practice? I know we are advised to limit screen time, but our phones have so many features that can be a challenge.

Maybe we could limit mindless screen time? Go back to rotary phones??

I use my phone:

  • to photograph art work and inspiration constantly
  • to shoot video of processes
  • to time exposures – cyanotypes
  • to listen to soothing music
  • as a timer to get things done
  • to create reminder lists
  • to make slideshows
  • to capture before and after clean studio pictures
  • to check the time or weather for making plans
  • to check out art friends social activities
  • find free clip art
  • Screenshots of internet ideas/instructions

slipknot book of gelatin prints by linda germain

With all of these uses, I can see why it is a challenge to reduce screen time. I am okay  with many of those activities.  And I know my black holes, Netflix, Youtube and Freevee.

cyanotype book with art quotes

I am giving up feeling bad about using my phone and will be looking for more creative uses for this studio tool. I invite you to try some gentleness around your phone use and art practice.

Check out the online classes available now.

flower photo to inspire stamps

 

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