Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Mark Making as a process

artist book, mark making / Linda Germain / January 31, 2022

Mark making can be simple or complex. For me it is a process of layering shapes, lines, textures and colors.

It is some what intuitive and always evolving. The next mark is informed by all those that came before.

For that reason I like to:

leave plenty of white space
use transparent layers
be willing to not know what is next

Making with a variety of marks like:

drawing
scribbling
stamping or
rubbing

leads to prints with a complex texture and visual story. This kind of story is often powerful enough to convey a story with multiple meanings.

Knowing when to leave space and how to connect marks is unique to the maker and is developed through the process.

In the online class, Making Marks and Books we will explore this process of evolving marks to complete a book. Come to class with the skills you already enjoy and explore:

gelatin printing thing textures layers
tool making with foam and cardboard
release feeling and emotion with scribbles

Check out all the details and join us – class starts soon.

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Mark making tools

mark making, mark making tools, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / January 24, 2022

Do you have favorite mark making tools?

I do. I love black gel pens that flow smooth and easy. Of course I love to use cut glass to make marks with the gelatin plate. Below you will find more of my favorites.

Black gel pen for contour drawings and fine line doodles.
Kids water based markers for “inking” small relief blocks and drawings.
Soft kids crayons for rubbings and rough line drawings.
Homemade relief stamps for pattern making.
Small set of alphabet stamps for printing words.
Cut glass for making impressions with ink and the gelatin plate.
Small brayer for linear and blocky bold marks.
Red acrylic ink and an eye dropper for bold colorful lines and blobs.
Round and oval caps of all sizes for stamping.
Plastic doily for delicate impressions.
Corrugated cardboard for making designs with the gelatin plate.

Often a combination of marks with different qualities creates an interesting image.

The quality of marks can be:

thick or thin
bold or delicate
aggressive or timid
smooth or ragged
flat or dimensional
and so on

The characteristic of the mark convey a feeling or mood. It is fun to use a unique combination of marks and tools to tell your own story.

We explore several mark making approaches in the online printmaking classes. Check out what classes are currently being offered.

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Monoprinting Fabric with the gelatin plate – self study

monotype print / Linda Germain / January 18, 2022

I am making the online class, Monoprinting Fabric into a self-study. So it is available now and when you are ready to explore gelatin printing on fabric.

9 online pre-recorded lessons with 27 short videos
12 different techniques
short actionable videos to get you printing right away
Ability to download videos for personal use

One student reports:

Monoprinting on Fabric has been a fabulous course. There is a lot there to keep me going for a very long time. I love your teaching style, very encouraging, supportive, clear and fun. Patricia G. from the UK

So if you have been thinking about exploring printing on fabric with the gelatin plate, then check out the details on the workshop page.

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Reset – Your art practice

monotype print / Linda Germain / January 14, 2022

Today, I am having phone challenges and the advice is to reboot or reset or even restore to manufacturers settings if needed. Hmm? These options must some how correct the function of the system.

Reboot is the simpler and less invasive approach, a simple power down, wait a minute and turn it back on. It is like a quick refresh/clean.

The Reset option is a little more intense. Basically tell the system to forget most of what you taught it, like log ins and passwords.

And the Restore option wipes the phone clean and removes all evidence that you were there.

What does this have to do with making art? Hmmm. It got me thinking about ways to stimulate my art practice.

I know that creating is an up and down process for me. I will make pleasing prints and ugly ones too. They all have their purpose. But I was thinking to apply the reboot, reset or restore idea to the down times in my practice.

I could ask myself:

How is my system functioning?
Do I need a deep clean or a little refresh?
Are there areas/habits/practices that I want to permanently delete?

Ways to Reboot my art practice:

Daily walks
Make stuff just for fun
Clear off my workbench

Ways to Reset my art practice:

Go through old work and get rid of it, give away, etc
Pass on tools and supplies that I don’t use
Identify the skills and techniques that currently move me to action – do more of them

A Way to Restore my art practice:

How would I restore my artistic self to “manufacturer’s settings”? This would require time, thought and discovery. A retreat in a wonderful art community sounds good.

My original settings? a maker who likes to guide others to make stuff too.

I hope that you are enjoying your art making process, but if you are not then maybe try a Reboot, Reset or Restore. Or check out the current online classes being offered.

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What will you nourish in 2022?

collage, drawings, inspiration / Linda Germain / January 3, 2022

Some folks pick an inspirational word at the beginning of the new year. I have never really done it before, but for some reason the word nourish is in my head these past few days.

Nourish has a warm comforting feeling.

If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find it means:

to nurture, to rear
to promote the growth of
to furnish or sustain with nutriment
to feed, maintain or support

Whether we realize it or not we are most likely nourishing something. It might be kids, or health or our art practice.

I am encouraged to look more closely at what I am doing to nourish my body, mind and soul. Nourish seems to be compassionate, caring and wise.

Three ways I am planning to nourish my life:

Eat more whole clean food and listen to the feedback from my body.
Gently let go of stuff in my car, home and studio, so my space is comfort.
Give myself more time each day to play at making marks.

The caring and supportive sense I get from the word nourish makes me feel excited to “feed” myself and grow healthier and happier with these activities. I don’t feel burdened by these “goals.”

I encourage you to try on the idea of nourishing yourself. What small change could you make to feel stronger, safer, or more nurtured?

Maybe join us in Creating Habits, the online class that explores a bit of drawing, collage and sketchbooking. Class starts January 7, 2022. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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