Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Value in scribbling – loosen up!

trace monoprint / Linda Germain / July 7, 2019

Paul Klee is quoted, “Art does not reproduce the visible; rather it makes visible.”

Scribbling is an automatic, loose, expressive line drawing. It is guttural and filled with emotion. The surrealist and abstract expressionist made scribbling ok.

One of my favorite “scribblers” is Cy Twombly. He did huge scribble like paintings. Do a google image search and enjoy.

Of course you are familiar with the action painting style of Jackson Pollock.

I also love the large brush stroke paintings by Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell.

What is it that is appealing about scribbling?

It is raw and authentic
It tells a different story to different viewers
Maybe it says what can’t be said with recognizable forms

My scribbles are not going to get me into an exhibit or museum, but they do free up my mark making.

I did a series of 30 small expressive style drawings, using the trace monoprint method and Akua inks.

I was experimenting with different pencils, pens and crayons to transfer the ink in different ways.

My drawings/prints went from chaotic to quiet and back and forth again. I think making art is like the ups and downs of a gentle roller coaster ride. In the end I had discovered some new tools and marks that I will use in my mixed media prints.

If you are interested in:

exploring expressive drawing
making trace monoprints

Join us in SEE draw print, the online class. Class starts Friday. READ the details.

Value in scribbling – loosen up! Read More »

Working small can lead to big things

monotype print, trace monoprint / Linda Germain / July 3, 2019

It can be overwhelming to getting started with a new series or art project. One way to ease into a new project it to work small and do a little something each day.

I like working 5″ x 7″. It is small enough to complete quickly and a standard size that can easily be framed up to 8″ x 10″

An in a very short time I can have a collection of drawings, prints or collages for my studio wall.

Consider doing a few small works in one day to get yourself psyched up to continue the “daily doing.”

Three tips on making small art everyday:

Use supplies that are easy and accessible to you quickly. Minimize prep time and clean up time. That is why daily drawing is so popular, all you need is pen and paper. But if you are printmaker or collage artist or fiber artist find ways to leaves supplies out and ready, so you can quickly make your small daily piece.
Hang up your work. Admire it. Enjoy the growing collection. Try not to judge every little piece. If you give yourself time and space you will see your unique voice evolving and getting clearer.
Keep it fun. Remember this is a practice to support you. If it turns into another chore to get done, then consider changing the subject or medium and get back to a bit of joyful creation.

If you would like to jumpstart a daily habit with some drawings and trace monoprinting, then

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

This is a great class to get playing with loose, expressive drawing and then easily transform those drawings into one of a kind, trace monoprints.

The “big things” that could happen from your “daily doings.”

You may have body of work for a solo show
You may have a stack of work to frame and sell or gift
You may have new and stronger skills
You may have become more aware of your unique expression

I think it is worth the try!

Working small can lead to big things Read More »

Loving Akua Intaglio ink for Trace Monoprinting

trace monoprint / Linda Germain / July 1, 2019

Trace monoprinting is a simple printing process. And having a high quality, slow drying ink like Akua Intaglio makes it even easier.

I am getting ready for the online class, SEE – draw – Print and making prints and discovering new things in the process.

I am most pleased with how the Akua Intaglio ink stays active and workable for a very long time. The Akua ink is designed to stay open and workable until it is absorbed into the paper.

So I can leave it on my palette over night and come back the next day and work it a bit with my palette knife and brayer and start pulling prints right away.

It is a soy based formula and does not have the toxic properties of traditional oil based inks.

In the past I have used the speedball water based block printing inks with a retarder to make trace monoprints. That ink dries pretty quickly, so I needed to work fast and spontaneously.

A good way to try out the Akua inks it to get a starter kit. You get some Intaglio ink, and liquid pigment and transparent base and one modifier. I would suggest getting a jar of Mag Mix too.

I use the Mag Mix to stiffen the ink and make for a cleaner line when making trace monotype prints.

If you are new to printmaking and have never used professional quality inks, please enjoy this video and others by Susan Rostow, the creator of Akua inks.

If you would like to explore printmaking without a press, get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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Do some Picasso inspired “one-liners”

monotype print / Linda Germain / June 28, 2019

I love line drawings that are simple and still express authenticity. And that can be a challenge to let the line flow and not be labored.

trace monoprint by linda germain — Line drawing trace monoprint

To get some inspiration for the beauty of simple line drawings check out the one liners by Picasso.

I also love the Plant drawings by Elsworth Kelly.

If you are inspired by the simplicity of the one line drawing, then give your self a challenge.

You could:

Pick a line drawings by Picasso or another master and do studies
As a learning to see tool – you could copy it and trace it
Then draw it while staring at it
Notice if you are loose or tense
Remember to breathe

After doing a bunch of studies you could pick one flower or animal and do your own drawing in just one line.

It may take several steps to simplify the image to one line and still express the essence. As Picasso did with he bull studies.

Here is a quote that is attributed to Picasso that support the beauty of the one liner:

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary .”

My drawing is more than one line, but I do feel the essence of those tangled wires.

I like to use this simplified line drawing approach when I am preparing images to make trace monoprints.

The line drawing becomes the matrix for the fuzzy lined trace monoprint. And that fuzzy line quality gives the image a whole new feel.

I made a copy of this figure drawing and then used that to make the trace monoprint below.

If you are intrigued by simplified drawings and want to explore the trace monoprint process, then check out the details on the Draw into Print Workshop page and join us, class starts soon.

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All about the brayer

tools / Linda Germain / June 25, 2019

Recently, I have been going back to the basic tool in printmaking – the brayer.

Sometimes I want a nice thin and even layer of ink. And other times I let the nature of the roller and texture of the ink be a key part of the design.

In the book cover above I used a modified roller to get the textured lines. And yet I love the smooth texture of the landscape print below.

If you are new to using a brayer and you are seeking a smooth application of ink it can be frustrating. It really does take time and practice to get the brayer to do what you want it to do.

So give yourself a break. Factors that affect a brayers release of ink on the plate:

Viscosity of the ink
Pressure of you hand
Speed and motion of the roll
Air temperature and humidity
Size of the roller
Width of the roller
Type of roller
Type of ink and type of plate

Have you developed your own style of using your brayer to create marks, impressions and prints?

If you need a little help choosing a brayer for gelatin printing on paper check out this blog post.

I have been making so many brayered prints that I am making them into books using the drum leaf binding.

The drum leaf structure opens flat and does not require any sewing. I like to make small journals for quick sketches. And because they are easy to make the books feel less precious and I am willing to fill them with notes and sketches.

All about the brayer Read More »