inspiration

Find things that feel good

inspiration, mark making / /

Lately, I have been noticing and choosing habits and tools that feel good. For example, I have experimented with different book forms for my sketchbook. And the one that suits my approach to sketch booking is a soft cover coptic stitch 4.5″ x 6″.

sketching by the lake

This book is:

  • small enough to carry on my daily walks
  • flexible and can be folded to lie flat on any page
  • expands a bit to accommodate some collage

drawing tools

I have been looking for soft drawing tools that make strong marks with not too much pressure required.

I found:

  • a black gel pen at the dollar tree store that flows smoothly and is water resistant
  • black sharpie gives a bolder line with little effort
  • Crayola watercolor pencil is easy to make marks with
  • China markers require a little more effort but I like the water resistant quality

mark making papers

I am trying on the daily practice of drawing enso, Zen circles, the meditative circle drawing in a single exhale. I like the idea of connecting with my breath. Now, I have a lot of black circles, so I have been playing with adding color for fun. I experimented with different brushes, to find one that felt good in my hand and created an expressive line.

modified paint brushes for mark making

Even trying out new habits is a way of finding ways to feel good. I often start a method, and then tweak it to my liking. That is why I am playing with adding color to my Ensos.

enos, zen circle with water color

I encourage you to look at your mark making tools and habits and ask:

Does this feel good? Can I do this with ease? And find little things that work for you.

Sometimes an art class can stimulate new habits, if that interests you then check out the current online art classes.

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Inspiration and action

inspiration / /

I think creating takes both inspiration and action.

abstract birch trees

It is important to give yourself time for each. This might take a little patience.

I sometimes have an internal conflict when I am in inspiration mode and really want to be in action mode. Or the other way around. This is when I try to pause and remind myself to give me time and space.

leaves on the ground

On the inspiration end, I

  • Take walks in the woods
  • Browse Pinterest and
  • Go to Museums or galleries

To get into action mode, I

  • Set up my studio space ahead of time
  • Use a 20 minute timer
  • Do daily mark making

In between inspiration and action, I think there is an incubation period. This is the magical time when ideas develop into expression. You may not know how the evolution happens, but at some point marks, images and ideas seem to fall into place.

mixed media print

I encourage you to notice your cycle of making. This noticing helps me go with the flow in those quiet times of incubation.

Coming soon, the Torn Trees Workshop. It is an online mixed media class. We will use gelatin printmaking, collage and mark making to build abstract forests. Get all the details on the workshop page.

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Get closer

inspiration, mixed media printmaking / /

On my daily walks, I often take a few steps off the path to get closer to a tree, some moss, or a branch.

walk by the lake

I think, if I pause and really notice nature it will give me ideas for my art making.

look up a tree

I often have my phone available to take pictures. I want to remember the colors, texture and mood that I am feeling.  Sometimes I can capture the moment, but often the photo is lacking.

So I decided to savor the time in the woods and not to worry about bringing it back to the studio. The daily walk can inform my mark making rather than be a photographic reference.

beautiful decaying tree

Getting super close to textures and patterns turns the everyday into abstraction. This can spark creative ideas. These ideas don’t have to be literal or linear.

That is where I got the idea to create the mixed media class, Torn Trees.  After being surrounded be trees on my walks, decided to play with printing some. My first inspiration was the tall pine trees with nubby branches that stand on the hill by the lake.

pine trees by the lake

These abstract tree prints are about using shape, line and texture to create a feel of the forest.  I suggest that you get closer to nature in your day and see what it does for your creativity.

abstract trees - gelatin plate print

If you would like to play with printing, collaging and drawing to make abstract forests, then check out the details on the Torn Trees Workshop page.

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5 helpful printmaking posts

gelatin print tips, inspiration / /

I wanted to share a few posts that I think will help your gelatin printmaking process.

1. Printmaking and papers

stack of tissue paper prints

Paper choice is very important. Choose papers that support your creative spirit. More details here

2. Value Matters

mountains scape by linda germain

A range of value from very light to very dark is often overlooked. Color is so exciting, but value matters more. Read more and think about your prints.

3. Tweak your found stencils

Delicate grasses make great stencils

I love using found weeds as masking stencil and sometimes I have to give them a haircut to get the delicate impressions that I like.  Read more about preparing found stencils here.

4. Three uses for glycerin

glycerin as a retarder

Glycerin can be hard to find, but I have found it very useful in the water based printmaking process. Get the details here.

5. “Save” that gelatin print

thumbnail image print

In this post I share 3 ways that I use imperfect prints. Enjoy!

 

 

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Listening to your intuition

inspiration / /

With the busyness of today’s world, it can be hard to hear the voice inside you. I know I go to my phone constantly for answers and ideas.

Gelatin plate monotype print

This does not have to be a good or bad thing. It is just a way of finding answers or information.

I would like to trust myself a little more and be better able to move forward without needing to check the weather or the surf cam first.

gel print by linda germain

To help me quiet the outside world and be able to hear my intuition, I go into the woods. But even there I have my phone to measure my pace or photograph a shadow.

Writing helps release some of the chatter. I often do stream of consciousness writing, as described in The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.

Willingness to not know the answer yet and be in a state of uncertainty is helpful. It takes time and practice to hear and listen to your intuition. Little by little you will get better at knowing what is right for you.

What does this have to do with printmaking?

Well, I think much of art making is learning to play with tools by learning to listen to your intuition. Of course there are physical skills and maybe even design principles that are necessary.  But the magic happens when you trust yourself to try it and see what happens.

As a teacher, I am always trying to foster both the physical skills and the trust in one’s self. I think of learning as a cycle of hard skills and experimentation. And only the student knows if she is ready for hard skills or it’s time to play.

If this approach to learning sounds interesting to you, then check out the Gelatin Print Project. It is a 3 part online printmaking class that starts soon.

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