Start the new year with gelatin printmaking

I invite you to join me in the online class, the Gelatin Print Project.

gelatin print by linda germain

I feel that one way to build printmaking skills is to pull a lot of prints. And the immediacy of gelatin printmaking lends itself to making lots of prints very quickly. In this class we will build layers on light and delicate base prints.

You will learn how to get the most from your impressions, layering and combining:

  • shaped impressions
  • detailed impressions
  • spot pick ups
  • light ghost impressions

Read all the details on the workshop page. Class starts January 10th, 2025.

100 print project

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Is your sketchbook seasonal?

I have a new favorite sketchbook.

sketchbook signatures with machine sewn binding

It has:

  • 6 signatures that are sewn with a sewing machine
  • I glue them together when the sketchbook is full
  • The pages are 6″ square
  • I work each signature separately, so I can let one page dry and still be working on another
  • There is no chronological order
  • I glue a print to the cover and back
  • And finish it with a folded paper jacket

I have been using this style of sketchbook for the last few months and I am very happy with how the books have come together.

machine sewn and glued sketchbooks

I am finding that this month has a lot of Christmas themed marks. Using some of the small foam stamps that I made with the Stamp Making + Mixed Media Books class. You can still take the class as self-study.

stamping in sketchbook

I always love:

  • grids
  • trees, birds and houses
  • lately I have included fish and egg shells

holiday grid drawing

I alway have scribbly text.

sketchbook page linda germain

sardine can drawing

I encourage you to find a sketchbook format and tweak it so that sketchbooking is easy and fun for you. I carry mine around and love looking at what I did that day.

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Easy to make library pocket for sketchbooks

I have been enjoying adding little pockets to my sketchbooks. I thought you might like it too. So here is a quick video:

Supplies that you will need:

  • index card or 4″ x 6″ paper
  • scissors
  • glue
  • art supplies to decorate

decorate pocket with stamped marks

You can fill your sketchbook pockets with tiny art work, blank paper or other notes.

library pocket in sketchbook

I often decorate with hand stamped marks, crayon, watercolor and markers.  If you want to learn how make ting foam stamps, then check out the details of my online class, Stamp Making + Mixed Media Books. All the lessons are available now. This technique is great for making holiday tags, cards and small bits of wrapping paper.

hand stamp holiday tags and cards

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Stamping backgrounds

I used my tiny handmade stamps to print some over all backgrounds. It is an easy way to get started in my sketchbook when I am feeling distracted.

hand stamped sketchbook page

I made a bunch of unique stamps with sticky backed foam. I like to ink these small stamps with broad tipped markers. This way I can ink the stamp with more than one color.

hand printed sketchbook page

Making several impressions with out re-inking allows me to make impressions with a range of value from light to dark. This makes for an interesting print.

hand stamped trees

Because these marks are hand printed, I can apply pressure to different parts of the stamp to get darker or lighter prints. The imperfect and incomplete trees above were created with just the one stamp. If you would like to explore this low tech method of mark making then check out the online class Stamp Making + Mixed Media Books.

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Join Me – New Class – stamp making

I am excited about the new class that starts October 25th. This class is about:

  • Making small stamps out of sticky backed foam
  • Slipknot book form
  • a gelatin print lesson and
  • a bit of collage

I love this combination of techniques. There is something for everyone. So you can choose a focus that fits your interest at this time.

slipknot book with gelatin print and collage

The slipknot binding is great for sketchbooking, because it can be flipped and folded to always lie flat. It takes a bit of thread management to link the pages together, but it is a pretty easy book form.

Gelatin monotype with stamping

I am including a gelatin print session so you will have prints to respond to with collage and stamping.

The collage lesson is just to get beyond the blank page.

slipknot bound books

Read all the details and join us in Stamp Making + Mixed Media Book Workshop.

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