inspiration Archives - Page 9 of 29

3 reasons to take an online art class

inspiration, mark making, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / October 11, 2021

I love taking art classes in person and online.

When I need some inspiration for my art practice taking a class often helps me generate new ideas. Often the class is a new subject or technique. Or sometimes I take a class because I love the teacher and her philosophy stimulates my process.

Recently, in person options have been limited, so online art classes have been my choice.

Online workshops are great because:

I have access to the lessons right from the comfort of my studio. No travel, traffic or parking challenges. I have all my tools readily available and I don’t have to pack up or lug supplies to the workshop location.
More bang for my buck. Online classes are often much less expensive than an in person class. Also I enjoy the benefits of feedback and encouragement from a wider group of classmates. Influences of an international group of students in online classes is unique.
I don’t have to take notes or worry about missing key skills. Most online workshops are downloadable or have lifetime access. So I can watch videos and do lessons over and over again. And each time I learn something new from the same material.

I hope I have encouraged you to check out online art classes to inspire and support your art practice.

If you are interested check out the current online art classes that I am offering.

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Magazines and books – sources of inspiration

altered books, book arts, drawings, inspiration, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / September 28, 2021

Once or twice a year I get a stack of old magazines from a library or other recycling source.

It is a treat to feast on the pictures and text. I cut stencils and roll pages into mark making tools, make collages and more.

I go through the magazines several different times for collage and drawing projects.

cut up book pages for collage — cut out word poems

Parts of the magazine that inspire me:

Words – for found poems and collages
Fonts – for drawing
Photos for drawing references
Thumbnails of larger pictures – composition ides
Illustrations – for drawing ideas
Figures and silhouettes for stencil making

So go to your library or recycling center and get a stack of magazines and make stuff. The images and words that you find are a jumping off place for your own uniques expression. Twist, crop and rearrange the words and images to make something new.

Make some origami boxes – There is a free tutorial here.

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Look back and move forward

inspiration / Linda Germain / September 1, 2021

One way to fill the well of inspiration and creativity maybe to scroll through images from 5 years ago.

I take about 6000 pictures a year. Most of them are about my art process. I use Lightroom to index the images.

I scrolled through 2016 and I discovered:

I was living in a huge warehouse loft
I walked in the city daily
I went to the museum a few times
I bought a car and paddleboard
I attended 2 in person art classes
I participated in 3 online classes

Those photos and memories gave me some ideas about what might be missing from my current activities.

Take more art classes
Find ways to be with other artists
Find ways to get to the Museum a few times

So you might want to try this image review, if you want ideas on “new” habits, actions, or activities to your art practice. If you want to take more art classes too, then check out the current online printmaking classes that are being offered.

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Go back to your sketchbook

artist book, inspiration, relief prints / Linda Germain / August 30, 2021

I have been using a sketchbook a lot more in the past year. It is quite satisfying to fill one up.

Sometimes I get too focused on finishing up a sketchbook. They end up on a shelf or in a box.

Then I remembered that they can be used as source material for more drawings and prints. So this may be obvious to you, but it is a new idea for me, to use the original sketches as reference to make more drawings.

So get out some of those old sketchbooks and draw! Some of these doodles and drawings make even inspire printing plates or stencils. Keep it fun!

If you are interested in relief printing with foam plates, then check out the details on the workshop page and join us in the Soft Plate Relief Printing class. This online class starts soon.

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Shadow and shapes for drawing

inspiration, masking stencils, tools / Linda Germain / August 27, 2021

You know that part of my practice is to go to the woods for inspiration. I love to capture cast shadows and use them as a drawing reference.

Using the photo as reference seems to help me to see shapes instead of leaves and branches.

I do the outline drawing one day and come back and fill the shadow shape in with black paint on another day.

I hope this inspired you to look for shadow shapes to draw. Sometimes I have to take a lot of shadow pictures before I get one that is good for reference. Got to love our phones and digital cameras.

Sometimes I use shadow shapes to make stencils for gelatin printmaking.

Happy Printing!

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