Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Fun with book pages

book arts / Linda Germain / June 10, 2020

You can use book pages for almost any paper project. I think the half hidden text can create interest and draw the viewer in closer to your art work.

I often will white wash a stack of old book pages and then gelatin print on them. It creates a freedom, because the paper is not so precious. I white wash with the same ink or paint that I am printing with.

While brainstorming for the upcoming class, Books as ART Materials, I played with book pages for paper mache bowls. It was more challenging than I thought it would be, but fun to explore.

I love making little origami boxes with book and magazine pages. It is always a surprise to see how it all folds together. I have quick tutorial here on making origami boxes.

You could do any origami project with pages. I have folded a few cranes. Choose a thin yet sturdy page for these folded projects.

When I start to take a book apart, I love finding pages with different qualities:

faded sepia tones
scribbles and notes
transparent leaves
bold or big type
blank pages

I collect several papers with different qualities and begin a project, like the collage above.

How could you use book pages in your work?
Would it create freedom to play with paper?
Would it give you a way to begin?

If you would like some help using Books as ART Materials, the join us. READ the details on the workshop page. Class starts soon.

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Take Books Apart – Play

book arts / Linda Germain / June 7, 2020

There’s more to a book than you might think.

The obvious parts of the book are:

Cover
Pages and
Words

If you go a little deeper, you will find:

Book cloth
Decorative end pages
Illustrations
Lending and ownership notes
Marks of use and wear
Spine, mull, glue, headband and mull
Book board
Maybe even a dust jacket

I love to take old books apart and use those parts to make new pieces of art. That might include:

Black out poems
Artist journals and
Collaged pieces

You want to use books that are older and no longer loved. These types of books usually are recycled as paper products. This website is a good resource for book sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com

Often on the last day of a library book sale you can get a big bag of old books for a few dollars. Hunting for these old treasures is part of the fun. On this page I go into more depth about the qualities I look for in old books as art materials.

If you would like to explore using Books as ART Materials, then read the details on the workshop page and join us today. Class starts soon.

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Ways to motivate

inspiration / Linda Germain / June 2, 2020

I have to breathe fresh energy into my practice every day. Things that help:

Get Outside

Today, I walked my usual woods walk, but I started from a different point and it changed the experience. I also allowed myself to photograph shadow in the path.

I am hoping that these shadow photos inspire:

stencils
drawings, doodles and
books

Take a Class

This always gets my creative juices flowing. Recently, I took the Make It Move class with Kara Kramer and Carla Sonheim Presents. We played with making simple animations. It was fun and got me excited about playing with colorful paper.

This is one of my short animations:

If you can’t take a class, find a YouTube video and try a new skill or technique. Pick something that you would not normally do.

Clear Your Design Wall

Every so often I take all the art work off my studio wall. It is like a fresh start. Then I can pick new inspiration to pin up.

Then slowly add bits of inspiration or new work.

MORE ways to energize your practice:

Make a mess
Use old tools in a new way
Purge unloved work
Play new kind of music
Move your workbench

Hope you are happily creating in your studio space!

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Plates as Puzzle pieces

relief prints / Linda Germain / May 15, 2020

Working and printing at home or in a small studio is easy when using soft foam plates. I can pile prints in small spaces and spread tools out on a couple of tables.

I love using recycled produce containers and small consistent sizes to make plates that can fit together some what like a puzzle.

Soft foam plates create muted and changeable impression. They can be layered an overlapped to introduce variety into the piece.

If you are looking for a low tech way to print on paper or fabric and create one of a kind impressions, then foam plate printing may be a good option for you.

The basic technique is to make recessed lines in the foam and then ink and print the high parts of the plate. Simple pens and pencils can be used to make the marks. But you can get creative with found objects and masking stencils to expand the mark making vocabulary.

Join us in the upcoming class, Soft Plate Relief Printing, read all the details on the workshop page.

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Print patterns on fabric with foam plates

foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / May 11, 2020

I was inspired by the geometric patterns of African mud cloth in this pillow project.

I made a few small 2″ x 4″ soft foam plates and played with creating pleasing patterns. I printed on linens and napkins from the thrift store.

I found that I liked the simple designs best and to leave a little space between impression gave the eye a place to rest. These foam printing plates are made from recycled styrofoam produce trays.

I heat set the printed fabric with an iron. I use the hottest possible temperature and use a thin cloth in between the iron and printed fabric. The longer you can wait to wash the more permanent it becomes as well.

If you would like to make a bunch of foam plates and play with printing on paper or fabric, then join us in Soft Plate Relief Printing, the online class starting soon. Get all the details on the printmaking workshop page.

I was ambitious and made this ocean inspired quilt from a stack of relief printed swatches. FUN!

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