Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Sketchbook a safe place?

artist book, sketchbook ideas / Linda Germain / March 10, 2025

Is your sketchbook the safe place that everyone suggests that it is? For me, I would have to say sometimes. Other times I have sketchbook envy. 🙂

Even after all these years, I am not a natural sketchbooker. And that is my primary art making activity these days. I am filling boxes and boxes of handmade sketchbooks with all sorts of bindings and marks.

I have so many that I can see trends and periods of focus. I am finding this looking back and noticing to be informative.

I have noticed:

how I have tried many bindings and found one that works for me
a reminder of classes I took and techniques that I have tried
that over time the sketchbook has become a safer place to play with mark making

At one time, I made hard cover books that seemed too precious to use for a sketchbook practice. Many of them are still unused.

I also have a sense of urgency to complete a sketchbook. And when I do finish it, I like to hold it and look through the pages. I have been filling a sketchbook about once a month. They are 6″ x 6″ pages and 84 in a book.

Things that make my sketchbook feel like a safe place:

don’t share it with others
know that I can collage over that ugly page
try new things without much expectation
look back at old sketchbooks and be impressed

If you would like to fill some sketchbook pages with abstract forests, then checkout the featured class, Torn Trees. It is on sale for the month of March, was ~~$75~~. now only $50.

12 lessons, 17 videos and lots of fun!

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The Woods Inspires Mark Making

monotype print / Linda Germain / March 4, 2025

Trees are one of my go to subjects. They are easy to abstract and fun to create.

I get my inspiration from my walks in the woods, but I also see amazing old trees every where.

I can be fun to try to capture the likeness of that favorite tree.

Sometimes I get close and notice the texture of the bark and things growing there, moss, ivy, bittersweet, and the like.

The look and feel of the tree changes with the seasons. Winter offers bare branches and monochromatic color. In the spring I notice fresh green and red buds fill the branches. Summer is a lush canopy of greens. And the Fall can be a riot of brilliant colors.

I have wanted to capture “that” tree in all of its seasons, but just have not done it yet.

This admiration of trees lead me to create the Torn Tree Workshop. It is about making abstract forests with simple printmaking and drawing techniques. This month of March I am offering this 12 lesson class for only $50. USD. Check out the details.

I like to combine my woods walks and my art inspiration.

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Change up your routine

artist book, inspiration, mark making / Linda Germain / February 25, 2025

Today I walked on the wintery beach, instead of the snowy woods by the lake. Gosh, I am so lucky to have these places to walk.

It is a 20 minute drive to the beach and only two minutes to the woods trail. And I am glad that I changed it up today. It was high tide which left a fresh trail of shells, seaweed and driftwood.

I followed a flock of sandpipers along the shore. I breathed in the salty air and enjoyed the ocean waves. On the way back I collected some driftwood sticks for an upcoming art project.

This change of scenery gave me a fresh start to the day. I encourage you:

to walk a new route,
notice the beauty,
and let it feed your creative day.

Just a reminder you can save $25. on the Make Marks + Books class until the end of February – now only $60. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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Make your own tools

tools / Linda Germain / February 17, 2025

We are makers! We have the desire to make stuff and often the making is more important than the end product. I have made and then tossed plenty of prints, collages, drawings and books.

I make tools so that:

don’t have to buy anything
my marks will be unique
for the fun of experimental creation

I make my own gelatin plate because I like how it allows me to print delicate detailed impressions. You can get the recipe here.

Recently, I have been making my own foam stamps because they permit fast easy printing in my sketchbook. I get to choose the subject matter such as birds, trees, and geometric shapes. If you would like to make a pile of your own stamps – check out the details of the online class, Stamp Making + Mixed Media Book Workshop.

In Make Marks and Books we find and make several kinds of mark making tools:

find texture making “tools” to use with the gelatin plate
craft cardboard relief plates
make wooden block stamps
find “stencil” tools for supported line drawing
collect raised objects, like cut glass for rubbings

Test and print with all these tools to make a cohesive artist’s book. Save $25 on the Make Marks + Books class for February – now $60. was ~~$85~~.

Do you like to make your own tools? Are you willing to use what you have to experiment with new marks?

I hope so! Play with making some new marks today.

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The feel of your art

artist book / Linda Germain / February 7, 2025

I like making artist’s books and journals because they can be held and touched. They are “precious” but can be felt and experienced in an intimate way.

I can feel the:

texture of the paper
stickiness of the crayon
slickness of pen and pencil
smoothness of the ink

Somehow these feelings combine into a story or conversation. I think the layers of marks can become different stories for different viewers. That is what the books that I make with the techniques from the Make Marks Workshop is all about. Creating stories through marks and layers that allow the viewer to come to unique conclusions.

Marks can evoke energy that was felt at the time of creation. The heaviness of the mark, or the light pencil scribble tells a different story. I think that the layering of marks overtime reveals the makers intent, that can be conscious or subconscious.

As the maker, it can be a challenge it let things unfold. It can also be hard to share the end product with others. I find it easier to share when my vulnerability is a bit hidden in the layers.

What about you?
Do you like to share your work?
Do you think books are too precious to handle?
Is the vulnerability hidden in your marks and layers?

If you would like to explore Mark Making and create an artist’s book, then check out all the details of the online class, Make Marks + Books. You can save $25 this month, February 2025, now only $60 ~~was $85~~.

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