inspiration Archives - Linda Germain

Fun with Books

book arts, collage, inspiration / Linda Germain / June 12, 2025

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)

Above I used part of a black out poem and book cloth and book pages for collage.

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.

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 are always fun and an easy way to get started. Sometimes I cut them up and use them as collage bits.

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 / Linda Germain / May 20, 2025

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.

I like to scribble with kid’s crayons and dabble with inexpensive watercolors. I am inspired by primitive florals and faces.

Nothing seems to make linear sense, but I still seem to fill sketchbooks with marks and materials.

One fairly new tool that I have been playing with is a set of handmade daubers. They are very playful and expressive.

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.

Finding your way Read More »

Gift of Repetition

drawings, inspiration / Linda Germain / April 21, 2025

What do we gain by drawing the same thing again and again?

skills
muscle memory
a series of cohesive drawings

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.

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.

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.

Reminder, this month of April, the Monochromatic Mountains class is on sale for $50. Read all the details on the workshop page.

Gift of Repetition Read More »

daily doings

inspiration, studio / Linda Germain / March 21, 2025

How do you get started in your art practice each day? I have a couple of tasks that get me going each day.

One, I pull random angel cards and write the words in my sketchbook.

I think a little how those ideas could guide my day. Then I make a list of 3 things that I could do. My default list is

20 minutes of making
20 minutes of cleaning
20 minutes of draft writing

This list feels doable and gets me going when I am not sure where to start. I use it as a guide rather than a strict rule. Often I will be in the flow of one activity and just extend the time for another 20 minutes.

It is an amazing little way to gently trick myself into action. I remind myself that it is a tool to get me into action.

A couple of things can happen:

I just do the 20 minutes for each task
or I am stimulated into an hour or more on a single task and I am pleased with my accomplishments
or I get a new idea and move into gentle action

I use the 20 minute timer on my phone and I feel quite accomplished when I end up putting in several hours.

The 1-2-3 list is about starting the activities. Once I get going it is sometimes easier to keep going for another 20 minutes and finish the task.

I would think you could craft the 1-2-3 list to meet your goals. What activities would you include? Reading, writing, sorting, purging, walking, napping, yoga, anything goes.

A reminder: Save On the Torn Trees class for the month of March. Now only $50 Read all the details on the workshop page.

daily doings Read More »

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.

Change up your routine Read More »