Books, paper, pictures and more

I love using books as ART materials. The book inspires and informs that art project.

books can inspire art making

Some books are loved for the covers.

re-use this book cover to make journal

Sometimes the illustrations and drawings can be used to make new collages.

use children books to make collages

I think the more I play with books and take them apart and re-form the parts, then the more ideas I get.

pear collage from book pages

Children’s books are great for taking apart and using the pages, covers and words to make new art.

art work in kids books can inform the project

I find my books at the local library book sales. The books are unwanted and destined for the recycle bin, so I don’t feel bad about, cut, shredding and writing in them.

black out poem from old book pages

Do you have a few books that you would like to repurpose?

MAKE!

  • poems
  • collages
  • journals,
  • tools
  • photos
  • artist books

Let’s do it!

Check out the details of the online workshops currently being offered.

curl and photograph book pages

Pages can be curled and scrunched into new shapes and then photographed! FUN stuff.

Books, paper, pictures and more Read More »

What do books mean to you?

I must admit, I am not a big book reader, but I do love books. They can be intimate treasures that have been touched by many different people.

Story – Dream – Adventure – Escape!

books for making art

I love the old unwanted books. I love to hold them and turn the pages and take in the experience.

different books for art projects

These are the things I notice:

  • text, words and stories
  • feel of the paper
  • design of the cover
  • Notes of ownership
  • Scribbles of a child
  • Glue mesh and paper of the spine
  • pockets & labels
  • withdrawal notice
  • copyright dates
  • publisher
  • illustrations, drawing and graphics
  • embossed covers

book parts for making art

Most of the books that I use to make art were destined for the recycling bin, so I think it is a win-win situation that I can use the parts to make new art.

book spines for art making

As the book is deconstructed, I learn more about and and love it even more. Of course some books feels so precious to me and they do not get torn up and cut apart. At least not yet.

sewn tape binding by linda germain

Sometimes I use the covers and make new journals for drawings, doodles and prints.

If you have a collection of unwanted books and are brave enough to repurpose them into new works of art, then join us in the online art class – Books as ART materials.  Class starts soon. READ the details on the workshop page.

What do books mean to you? Read More »

Print Day in May – 4th 2019

We still have plenty of time to plan and join the global community of printmakers for Print Day in May.

Print Day in May began in 2007 at the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC), Monterey, CA. The MPC Fine Art Print Club (now the MPC Printmakers) created it to encourage printmakers everywhere to create prints on the same day . . . an all-inclusive printmaking effort! Join the MPC Printmakers, and make some prints during Print Day in May!

You can get into the international event:

  • Register for free on their website
  • plan a print day with your print buddies
  • get psyched about and share your passion on social media with the #printdayinmay
Instagram@printdayinmay
Facebook@printdayinmay
Twitter@printdayinmayUse #printdayinmay to be featured and to add your images to what has become an international printmaking forum!

gel printing is fast and spontaneous

I have been brainstorming ideas for the event. It will be a world wide print-along, a celebration of all that printmaking has to offer.

Here are a few ideas:

  1. Print botanicals with your best friend
  2. Make messy painted monotypes with your Grandkids
  3. Make tiny gelatin plates and print a tote bag
  4. Do a print exchange with a small circle of artists
  5. Visit a print studio and print with them
  6. Try a new method of printmaking
  7. Do trace monoprints at a life drawing class
  8. Make a manhole cover print

The main goal is to print and share the joy of printmaking with other. More info about Print a day in May on their website.

pile of prints by linda germain

Print Day in May – 4th 2019 Read More »

What do I mean – line quality?

I often think about the line quality of different printmaking techniques. The word quality may be misleading.

different line qualities in relief prints

Sometimes the word quality refers to good or bad. But that is not how I am using it, when I talk about the line quality in artwork.

Maybe character of line would be more accurate. I am talking about:

  • thick – thin
  • smooth – jagged
  • expressive – loose
  • sharp – mechanical

It is also about the expressive nature of the line and the feel or emotions it evokes.

A line can vary in thickness, length, shape, color, value and direction. Lines often help lead the viewer around the artwork.

In my practice of printmaking without a press, I explored different methods of printing that allow for and create marks of different line quality.

make lots of gelatin prints to get one you like

The different lines in these gelatin prints were created by the different tools that I used to produce the mark. For example the “bubbly” like lines were offset printed with a mop head.

figure drawing class linda germain

Trace monoprinting is all about the fuzzy line quality that is made on the back side of the paper to transfer the ink to the paper. Ohh I love that fuzzy line and I am not sure you could get that kind of mark any other way.

foam plate relief print

In soft plate relief printing, I search for tools to make lines with a wide range of characteristics. In the print above, I used pens, container caps, weeds, twigs, pattern wheel and masking stencils. I think I love turning found objects into printmaking tools.

I hope I have given you a new way to think about line in your artwork.

What do I mean – line quality? Read More »

Print big and small with soft relief plates

I am happy to share with you that it is possible to make large sized prints even with small relief plates.

studio wall of prints linda germain

This is a panoramic picture of my studio wall today. The soft plate relief prints on the left are 16″ x 20″ and a variety of sizes down to 4″ square on the right.

different styles of marks with soft foam relief plates

In this image you can see can see the different styles of marks that are possible with soft foam relief plates:

  1. Line drawings
  2. Bold shapes
  3. Water color painterly marks
  4. Mottled texture of the plate

I am sure that you can make this technique your own. I think the key is to make lots of plates and prints.

foam plates for printmaking

I have piles and piles of plates and a few that are my favorites. One challenge can be finding foam, especially if the grocers in your area do not use foam plates for food storage.

foam cut to size for printmaking

There are 2 art supply options, sticky back craft foam and scratch art board. Each type of foam holds a line differently and transfers ink in a different consistency. Experimentation with the tools that are available to you will allow you to develop your own style of relief printing. More about supplies here.

I would love to share what I know with you and help you explore soft plate relief printing.

Read all the details on the printmaking workshop page and join us today.

Print big and small with soft relief plates Read More »