mark making Archives - Page 4 of 4

Do you look or SEE?

drawings, inspiration, mark making / Linda Germain / December 2, 2021

Making art is about seeing. We use the sense of sight all day, and yet do we really see much?

The more I practice drawing and art making the more I know that it all is based on:

slowing down
looking long and closely
and training my hand to translate what my eyes are really seeing.

I think that it helps to think of seeing as a muscle/athlete in training. It is a skill that can be honed, focused or shaped.

We are so fortunate to live in this world with its abundant feast for our eyes. The challenge for the artist is to edit and find unique focus.

Things that I have been SEEING lately:

Shapes on roof tops and steeples
Different fonts
Autumn berries and twigs

I have complied some of my SEEING practices into a class, Creating Habits. This online workshop will run January 7 to 13, 2022. Check out the details and join us.

Do you look or SEE? Read More »

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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Value matters – Printmaking

Gelatin plate print, mark making, monotype print, stencils, techniques / Linda Germain / October 5, 2021

Sometimes, I look at a print that I am working on and feel that something is missing. I need something to make it pop or something to pull it all together.

Often I can do that by adding a very dark mark or a very light mark.

Value, the range of light to dark is often over looked. Color is easier to see so it often gets more attention.

Some painters do grey scale “drafts” before they paint with color.

One way to check for range of value is to take a black and white photo of your print. Do you see some very light areas as well as some very dark marks?

Another way I check for range of value is to squint at the print. If it blurs into one soft medium mass, then I need to look for ways to add dark darks or light lights.

If you want to build your skills for creating prints with a strong range of value, then join us in the upcoming online class, check out the current printmaking classes.

Value matters – Printmaking Read More »