mixed media printmaking Archives - Page 4 of 18

What to draw when it feels like work?

drawings, mark making tools, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / July 12, 2021

If you are like me and don’t really like to draw, then it can be challenging to come up with ideas for drawing subjects.

A few classic subjects:

self portraits
fruit and veggies
flowers

I think the important thing is that you are interested in the subject matter. That will make it easier to stay committed to the drawing. Most recently I have been distilling my marks down to basic shapes.

I think it helps to give your self permission to draw the same thing over and over again.

A couple of more topics:

Studio tools
Jars, cups and vessels
Buildings
Birds

So if drawing feels like work to you, don’t give up. Just keep trying new approaches:

new subject matter
use small pages or notebooks
try meditative marks

If you would like to explore some meditative mark making and learn a few book forms, then check out the current workshops being offered.

What to draw when it feels like work? Read More »

Books a good way to show off your monoprints

artist book, handmade books, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / July 9, 2021

If you are an experimental monotype printmaker like me, then you probably have a lot of prints and papers with potential.

The books above are bound in the manner of Japanese Stab binding. This form works well with a soft cover and hard back, and a long landscape style format. We will learn this book form in the Mixed Media Retreat.

Accordion style books are great for display.

I think the natural evolution is to start making books with some of those prints. Things you could make with your prints:

book covers
end pages
whole bound book of prints
spine covers

Pamphlet stitch binding easy and useful.

If you are curious to get started with some simple book forms, then check out the details, of the online Mixed Media Retreat. We will learn 6 book forms and several layering techniques that will put your prints to good use.

Soft cover coptic binding is great for books that open flat.

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Spring time – Good for rusting paper

artist book, mixed media printmaking, rust prints / Linda Germain / April 29, 2021

You may call me crazy. But I like to collect rusted bits of debris found on the side of the road.

Spring in New England, is a good time to find bits of rusted metal on the side of the road. And things are even pre-flatted. 🙂

I have a rusted cookie sheet and a collection of flat rusted things. Once or twice a year I like to rust up some paper or fabric.

It is easy to do, but yields unpredictable results.

Get your rusty things wet
Wet your paper
Stack the rusty stuff on your paper
Get the most contact possible. I like to put some weight on top
You can spritz with vinegar/water mix
Don’t cover. You need air to oxidize the metal.
Wait over night (that is the hard part)

Then you have some paper wit wonderfully aged patina. I have used it for:

Book making
Collage
Making prints

Give it a try!

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Failure informs

artist book, collage, inspiration, mixed media printmaking, monotype print / Linda Germain / April 23, 2021

Every time things don’t work out as I had hoped, it is an opportunity for me to learn something.

I could learn:

I don’t really like that technique
I need more instructions
I could use some practice
Am I using the right tools?
Maybe I need more time
Is it possible with the way that I am approaching it?

I could ask those kinds of questions about almost any situation in life, art, business, family or well being.

And I think for me it is easier to fail, and asks those questions in the art area of my life. For some reason, I have let it be a process of discovery that includes lots of learning through “failing.”

I have said it before, but if I get two out of 10 prints that I love, then I consider that a success. And it usually takes learning something from those other 8 prints to get those prints that I love.

So it is important that I enjoy the process and not just the end result.

I have been doing stuff in sketchbooks lately. And I realized I wanted the end result faster, I wanted to finish the sketchbook. Hmmm? This was not me loving the process.

I tried different approaches:

Made smaller books
Tried different book forms
Carried it with me
Allowed myself to write, doodle, collage, paint, print, what ever

I have not found my happy sketchbook practice yet, but I am learning a lot in the process.

If you would like some guidance and support in Simplifying your gelatin prints, then join us in the online workshop –SIMPLIFY- make powerful gelatin prints. Get all the details on the workshop page.

Failure informs Read More »

The woods as my inspiration

handmade books, mixed media printmaking, stencils / Linda Germain / April 12, 2021

I have been taking daily walks in the woods by the lake. I take photos but they don’t really capture the connection that I feel.

Yesterday, I decided to play with printing trees with torn paper stencils and the gelatin plate. Torn paper has a wonderful ragged and organic edge.

I wanted to create an abstract and somewhat natural feel to the printed woods scapes.

I experimented with speedball water based block printing ink and a little bit of acrylic. The first impression gave me the very dark background with white tree shapes. The second impression produced lovely light spot trees, similar to a birch tree.

I was having fun, but I wanted to create more range of value and some darker tree shapes. The printing session was a bit up and down with being pleased with the prints and being frustrated. That is usual for me.