inspiration

Finding new habits

collage, inspiration, sketchbook ideas / /

My sketchbook is a great place to find and develop new habits. It is a safe place to experiment. Hopefully I don’t bring in a lot of judgment and expectations to the process.

Sketchbook pages

I find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest. I’ll often take an image and use different materials to make it my own.

My favorite materials these days are simple, crayons, and water colors. I like how the crayon resist produces a sketchy mark.

Emotions collage

I use lines in squares and circles to mark up and start a page. I often work back-and-forth and do not complete one page or spread at a time.

My sketchbook can be a place to release and discover emotions and feelings.

Emotions, Mandela collage

Often I will glue in words or feelings, in the form of a collage or mandela. This is one of the habits that I offer in the class Creating Habits. It is 27 short videos with 20 new habits and it is the sale class for January. Check out the details on the workshop page and save $30 this month.

Finding new habits Read More »

Draw that leaf

drawings, inspiration / /

Here in New England fall is a wonderful time to use leaves as inspiration for drawings and print making.

Autumn leaves as inspiration

I do think that photos are the best way to capture the colors for a long period of time. But I can’t resist collecting a few leaves and bringing them back to the studio for inspiration.

capture the fall colors of the leaves

Out of all the choices that I had, can you believe that I picked a simple yellow and brown leaf to use as a reference for my sketchbook drawing.

Draw that autumn leaf

My plan was to fill a sketchbook spread with different variations, inspired by this one leaf. I started with an outline drawing of the basic shapes inside and out.

Repeat the same leaf shape with slight variations

Then I filled the two pages with similarly shaped leaves overlapping in layering them. I use loose watercolors, markers, and gel pen. I hope I have inspired you to gather a leaf or two, and to make a sketchbook drawing to celebrate the autumn season.

Check out the online courses that are available as self studies.

Draw that leaf Read More »

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.

Fun with Books Read More »

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

Finding your way Read More »

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

Gift of Repetition Read More »