Artist book as a canvas for collecting

artist book, combined techniques, drawings / /

I recently made an artist’s book with simple brown bag pages.

brown bags for book making

Brown bags are strong and a great substrate for journals and books.

mixed media artist book

I added some white pages and some printed pages and a gelatin printed cover.

Then I randomly white washed a few pages, printed on a few and just started adding marks.

gelatin printed book page by linda germain

I am having fun adding marks here and there and letting the book evolve in a non-linear fashion.

mixed media gelatin printed book

I have been carrying it around with me, so I can add to it where ever I am.

gelatin print in handmade book

I think it might end up being a memory or record of these few months. I always enjoy looking at these kinds of journals years later.

Give it a try.

Make a book from brown bags or other non-precious papers and then:

  • white wash some pages
  • tape in random words
  • Scribble or doodle
  • screen print or stamp in some marks
  • add some gelatin prints.

Let it evolve over the next few weeks. If you get some ugly pages, then collage over them. Enjoy!

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Screen printing into an Art Journal

screen printing / /

I made a couple emulsion based EZscreens yesterday, because it was a nice bright sunny day.

emulsion side of EZscreen

You just need a minute or two of bright sunlight to expose the emulsion coated screen. I made a couple of small text based screens that I hope to use to print on to clay.

taped EZscreens ready for printing

When I print on paper I duct tape the edges to give me a well for the ink and also to have something to hold onto. But I have seen some clay artist do not tape the screens to leave them more flexible for printing on shaped surfaces.

screen printing on artist book

I have a book that I have been playing with. It is already sewn together, so I used clothes pins to keep the pages separated while the wet ink dried.

silk screen printing into art journal

I have been using the EZscreens instead of thermofax screens. The mesh for the old thermofax machines changed a few years back and my machine stopped working correctly.

There is a new machine that is available in the US now, the MiScreen. It goes for about $2500. You can watch a video about that system here from Xpresscreen in NC.

These kind of emulsion based screens are a great way to get delicate detailed impressions. What I love is that I don’t have to deal with chemicals. They work great for the small type of screens that I use.

screen print of cottage

Happy printing!

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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Enjoy art documentaries – for new inspiration

inspiration / /

I watched Mies on Scene and was inspired by the building and story about the Barcelona Pavillon.

I challenge you to use your local library services or your movies services account and check out an art documentary for a a bit of inspiration.

I was particularly drawn to:

  • the shadows and reflections
  • the depths available in the simplicity
  • use of water and stone

I can see how I like to use this things in my own work. That makes me smile.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

Happy printing!

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Take a break and fuel your practice

drawings / /

Lately I have been using breaks to feed my art making.

free inspiration at your feet by lindagermain

On a sunny autumn day in New England, the foliage and fresh air feeds my sense of colors and landscape.

See the leaves at your feet

A walk around the city provides images for stencils.

screen print over a gelatin print

A sketch during a TV show can inspire, drawings, doodles and prints.

art sketchbook by linda germain

So how can you use breaks and other parts of your day to feed your art practice.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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Print with wonderful weeds

inspiration, mark making tools, tools / /

Today as I enjoyed the one of the last sunny days at the beach, I also gathered some fall weeds for some upcoming projects.

be inspried by the beach

I found some thin, detailed twigs and branches that I hope to use in a clay project.

twigs for printmaking

If I were printing with weeds and grasses on the gelatin plate, then I would look for very strong and very flat varieties of weeds.

So depending on the printmaking process that you are using will determine what kind of weeds will work for you.
I use strong and moderate thickness to create foam relief plates. These kind of weeds need to be strong and thick enough to make an impression in the plate.

soft relief plate for printmaking

So I hope you are encouraged to see the value in roadside weeds for your printmaking practice.

weeds for printmaking without a press

This thick mess of weeds is too complex for using with the gelatin plate, but it is going to be great for one time use in making an impression in clay.
Happy hunting!

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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