Explore mark making in a book form

book arts, combined techniques, mark making, mark making tools / /

I am pleased to share that I am offering a $25 discount on the Make Marks + Books online class for the month of February 2025. Read all the details on the workshop page.

layer marks for an artist book

After completing the 15 short lessons you will have:

  • at least one cohesive artist’s book
  • a growing collection of found stamping tools
  • a few hand made cardboard relief stamps
  • a box of foam block stamps
  • a selection of raised rubbing tools
  • confidence to explore hand drawn fonts
  • a deeper understanding of your mark making vocabulary

make some stamping tools

This class is about discovering and combining different types of marks to use in a mostly abstract artist book.  After looking at the Make Marks style books that I have created, I felt that they were a cohesive expression of how I was feeling at the time. They feel more precious than the journal style books that I have been making lately.

make mark a mixed media class with Linda Germain

The class was originally designed as a weekend workshop. But as a self study you can do the lessons in an order and pace that fits your lifestyle.

Save $25 this month. Read all the details on the Make Marks + Books workshop page.

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Start the new year with gelatin printmaking

monotype print / /

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?

sketchbook ideas / /

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

mark making, sketchbook ideas, stamping tools / /

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

mark making, stamping tools / /

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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