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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In the Studio – sketchbooks and papers

combined techniques / /

For quite a while now I have been working in a 6″ x 6″ sketchbook. It is a format that is very user-friendly and allows me to work on several wet pieces at once.

Finished sketch books

My favorite tools are inexpensive, watercolors, children’s crayons, pencils, and gel pens.

Use simple watercolors

This month I have been working large with a two-handed drawings and then cropping them down into 2 inch squares. Then I take the squares and fill in grid compositions on my sketchbooks. It’s quite fun to try to come up with different mark making ideas for the 2 inch squares that eventually make up the 6 inch page .

Large two-handed scribbled drawing

I work also on index cards which are 4″x 6″ and a good size for ending up with 2 inch squares.

Index card collage papers

Do you have ways that you took yourself into creating daily? I think:

  • Getting in the studio gets you started
  • Having supplies laid out, makes it easy
  • Lessening expectations and enjoying the process makes it happen

I hope you have fun in your studio today. If you want to explore some online classes check out the self study courses that are available.

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Making collage papers

collage, mark making, stamping tools / /

I have been making a lot of collage papers in preparation for my grid collages.  I think it is important to have a variety of types of marks and papers to create interesting collages.

grid collage by Linda Germain

So to do this, I use the several different techniques. Nothing too complicated. I have been incorporating my tiny little foam stamps into these collage papers. That makes the process very fast and easy.  I have been using 2 inch squares to make these collages.

stamped collage papers

The squares above were all printed with tiny foam stamps that I made. Some fit nicely on the 2 inch square and some are a little oversized. So that encouraged me to make new stamps that are small enough to be affective on this 2 inch square.

If you are interested in making these foam stamps I do have a course that is on sale for this month of April. Check out the details on the workshop page.

Tiny fish from stamps

It is possible to create several new stamps in a very short period of time. The process is fun and can be quite addictive. It is one way to make unique marks, papers, and prints.

fish prints by linda germain

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Fun with grids

collage, combined techniques, sketchbook ideas / /

Most recently, I have been making lots of grid collages in my sketchbooks. Grid making seems to be an easy way to get into creating without having to think too much.

grid collage by Linda germain

I have a couple of steps that I take to making grids. I like to make my own collage papers with different mark making techniques. So that’s one step all on its own. That’s quite fun and easy and accessible.

For this step I use stamping, watercolors, scribbling, and various mark making techniques. I like to have papers with a variety of marks and line quality.

hand made collage papers

In my most recent collages, I have been using index cards that I cut down to 2 inch squares so they fit into my 6 inch square sketchbooks.

Grid collage in sketchbook

Another thing that I like to take into this sketchbook process, is to embrace the studio rules that I have outlined for myself.

Studio rules by Linda Germain

  1. Enjoy the process
  2. Be gentle with myself
  3. Pause often to recharge
  4. Approve of the choices I make
  5. and play

As you develop your studio practice, I encourage you to make your own set of guidelines or rules to support your creative growth.

I would like to remind you that the sale class for March 2026 is the 100 print project. Check out the workshop page for all the details. Enjoy.

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