Start with what you already know

inspiration / /

I am a teacher at heart.  I was given the opportunity to observe a teaching situation with my young nephew just a few days ago.  screen print and gelatin print by linda germain

The 7 year old wanted to draw a complex six armed surfing buddha.  He was used to having a tracing template at school.  And he wanted it to be “perfect” the first time.

Hmm how to help him?  I gathered the right tools, pencil and a soft eraser and lots of practice paper.  Then we broke the drawing down into shapes that he already knows, circles, smiley faces, triangles, sloping lines and more triangles.

I was able to see his drawing technique transform right before my eyes in just minutes!  At first he tried to draw the whole image from memory. Then as we drew the circles and smiley faces and triangles, he started to look at the picture for reference.

I told him we would transform the circles into “wave hands later.”  He was willing to wait and trust that he could do a rough drawing and transform it as he went along.

When you learn a new skill do you:

  • gather the right tools
  • lots of practice materials
  • start with what you already know
  • listen to a gentle teacher
  • willing to be imperfect

I suggest you give yourself these gifts the next time you set out to learn a new skill.

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Three quick steps to Thermo Fax Printed Cards

2010 / /

thermofax_cardThree easy steps to screen printing your own holiday cards with the thermofax machine.

  1. First do a drawing, a doodle or find a high contrast black and white image.  I like to do loose line drawings with a ultra-fine point sharpie.  Often I am inspired by the drawings of my 7 year old nephews.  They are so honest, pure, and uncensored.  Line drawings are great images to transform into thermo fax screens for easy printing. Then make a carbon based photocopy of your drawing.  Carbon based is made with a copy machine with toner rather than ink, usually a laser printer will work too.
  2. Burn the screen in a thermofax machine.  There are many artists online who will do this for you if you do not have a thermofax machine.  Just google thermofax services you will find a number of artists.
  3. Set up your workspace and registration system and pull the ink through the screen on to your card stock.  I hand colored the letters after the ink dried.

I got my thermo fax machine in September and look forward to playing with it.  If you think you would like to be part of an online class to explore the thermofax print, then get on this special list below and I will let you know as the course develops.

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5 Fast Printmaking Techniques

techniques, trace monoprint / /

Are you an impromptu printmaker?  What types of printmaking processes lend itself to spontaneous printmaking?

With traditional printmaking there is planning the image, reversing the images, creating the plate or matrix, preparing the paper, working up the inks, set the press, organizing the blankets, setting up the drying racks and  you have not even started to print yet.

Left to right, gelatin monotype print, Trace mono print over collage, monotype print and relief printing tools.
Left to right, gelatin monotype print, Trace mono print over collage, monotype print and relief printing tools.

I would describe myself as an impromptu printmaker.  All that planning and preparation is just not my style.  As I was walking around the lake today, I was listing the printmaking processes that are a little more spontaneous:

  1. Relief stamping can be quick
  2. Stencil with found object is fast
  3. Monotype printing without a press
  4. Some types screen printing (thermofax) can be quick
  5. Trace monoprint is probably the fastest

How about you?  Do you like careful planning or do like to make marks quickly, spontaneously or as inspired?

Check out the current printmaking workshops that I am offering.

Happy Printing

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What does your art apron look like?

inspiration / /

L-Germain_IMG_4184-EditI love putting on my apron that is stained with the marks of making stuff.  I remember the special art apron my Gram gave me when I would paint with her.  Tools of a trade make you feel special, like you are a member of an elite group.

How about you do you love a clean apron, a stained paint shirt or something else?

Happy Printing

 

PS. If you are interested in my Make Monotypes class, join the special list today.  Registration will open soon.

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