Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Make unique fabric for your projects

I have piles of hand printed fabric. I have actually stopped making more until I use up some of what I already have.

I have made a few quilts and now have more quilts than I can use.

I covered some bricks with hand printed cloth to use as book weights. I do use these quite a bit and I think 6 big book weights is enough for my little studio.

I used heat-n-bond to transform some of the monoprinted fabric into book cloth. The heat-n-bond is applied to the fabric then thin rice paper is stuck to the other side. This creates a barrier so the glue does not seep through the fabric. Then I covered a few artists books.

I love composition notebooks. I covered a few with the hand printed fabric.

I love bags. I am definitely a bag lady. And yet surprisingly I have only stitched up one little shoulder bag. I think a big beach bag may be my next project.

If you are wanting to make some unique hand printed fabric, then check out the workshop, Monoprinted Fabric.

I am offering a 25% discount on this class for the next few weeks. It is a comprehensive class with 12 different techniques for gelatin printing on fabric.

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Try Gelatin printing on Fabric

gelatin prints on fabric / Linda Germain / August 2, 2024

I first gel printed on paper and loved the detailed impressions that I was able to capture.

Then I started to experiment with printing on fabric. Quickly I realized that I needed to adjust my approach and techniques.

The first thing I changed was the inks. I have experimented with a lot of inks and paints and choose to use screen printing ink.

Another adaptation was to work on dampened fabric to encourage the transfer of ink.

Then I had to adjust my expectations and embrace the unique nature of the process. I found that I could pick up adjunct types of marks that were not directly from the gelatin plate. I was learning to make the most of the process.

That is why I put together the Monoprint Fabric, online course. It is a comprehensive class that includes 12 different techniques.

I am offering a 25% discount on this class for the next few weeks. Check out the details on the workshop page. This class is for you if you want to create a stash of one of a kind fabric for your sewing projects.

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Ebb and flow of creating

inspiration / Linda Germain / July 16, 2024

It has been a good summer for small boat sailing, here in New England. There are a lot of factors that affect the decision to sail:

the wind speed and direction
the timing of the tides
and for me whether my brothers are willing to drag the boat over the beach to the shore.

Creating is like sailing. Some days are better than others, but even on a “bad” day I can find something good about it.

I do the best I can given the conditions. Sometimes:

It is hard to get started, but after I do start I find myself enjoying it
The conditions are not ideal, like the studio is 90 degrees, so I print in short bursts of time.
There could be factors beyond my control and I just need to take a day off from creating.

I have created little travel kits, so I can create at home, in my car, or at the beach. This way I increase my chances of finding the time and energy to create. I can roll with the ebb and flow of my energy.

My travel kits are nothing special, just a baggie of markers, a pen, some small stamps and a journal.

I have tried the more complex sketchbook kits, with watercolors and such, but they were too much for me and I never used them. We need to try lots of options and then do what works for each of us individually.

I find taking an art class can help with the ebb and flow of creation. I am following a couple of classes right now. I don’t always do the lessons as assigned. I try to take what is offered and tweak it to my style.

For example, the assignment was to collage in found images, as a background. I adjusted it and collaged in photocopies of my own images. This feels more meaningful to me.

So I encourage you to:

be open to the ebb and flow of making stuff
try a small travel kit specific to you
maybe take a class and tweak the lessons to your needs

If you like self paced online classes, then check out the classes I have to offer. Enjoy!

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Phone – studio tool

inspiration / Linda Germain / June 11, 2024

How many ways do you use your phone in your art practice? I know we are advised to limit screen time, but our phones have so many features that can be a challenge.

Maybe we could limit mindless screen time? Go back to rotary phones??

I use my phone:

to photograph art work and inspiration constantly
to shoot video of processes
to time exposures – cyanotypes
to listen to soothing music
as a timer to get things done
to create reminder lists
to make slideshows
to capture before and after clean studio pictures
to check the time or weather for making plans
to check out art friends social activities
find free clip art
Screenshots of internet ideas/instructions

With all of these uses, I can see why it is a challenge to reduce screen time. I am okay with many of those activities. And I know my black holes, Netflix, Youtube and Freevee.

I am giving up feeling bad about using my phone and will be looking for more creative uses for this studio tool. I invite you to try some gentleness around your phone use and art practice.

Check out the online classes available now.

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Simple tools – bold marks

artist book, book arts, combined techniques, foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / May 31, 2024

I love to keep the printmaking process simple and non-toxic. That is one reason that I enjoy gelatin printmaking so much.

I also enjoy the easy printmaking process of relief printing. Sticky back foam and scissors make this even easier.

The simpler the design the more I like it. Stamp pads can be expensive and the ones I buy dry up too fast. I found a way to ink the foam plates with broad nib markers.

I can quickly print these stamps in books and on papers. I love that I can use limited supplies and have very little clean up. And because I am using water based markers to “ink” the foam stamps everything is dry very quickly.

I have made quite a stack of little foam stamps over the last few weeks. Some inspired by nature walks.

I think small is good for this process, because they are easy to ink and print. I have made a few that are about 6″ long and I think that is big enough.

Check out the self study printmaking classes that are available now.

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