Phone – studio tool

inspiration / /

How many ways do you use your phone in your art practice? I know we are advised to limit screen time, but our phones have so many features that can be a challenge.

Maybe we could limit mindless screen time? Go back to rotary phones??

I use my phone:

  • to photograph art work and inspiration constantly
  • to shoot video of processes
  • to time exposures – cyanotypes
  • to listen to soothing music
  • as a timer to get things done
  • to create reminder lists
  • to make slideshows
  • to capture before and after clean studio pictures
  • to check the time or weather for making plans
  • to check out art friends social activities
  • find free clip art
  • Screenshots of internet ideas/instructions

slipknot book of gelatin prints by linda germain

With all of these uses, I can see why it is a challenge to reduce screen time. I am okay  with many of those activities.  And I know my black holes, Netflix, Youtube and Freevee.

cyanotype book with art quotes

I am giving up feeling bad about using my phone and will be looking for more creative uses for this studio tool. I invite you to try some gentleness around your phone use and art practice.

Check out the online classes available now.

flower photo to inspire stamps

 

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Simple tools – bold marks

artist book, book arts, combined techniques, foam plate printmaking / /

I love to keep the printmaking process simple and non-toxic. That is one reason that I enjoy gelatin printmaking so much.

simplified gelatin plate monotype prints

I also enjoy the easy printmaking process of relief printing. Sticky back foam and scissors make this even easier.

foam relief stamps

The simpler the design the more I like it. Stamp pads can be expensive and the ones I buy dry up too fast. I found a way to ink the foam plates with broad nib markers.

broad tip poster markers to ink foam relief plate

I can quickly print these stamps in books and on papers. I love that I can use limited supplies and have very little clean up. And because I am using water based markers to “ink” the foam stamps everything is dry very quickly.

foam stamps printed on book page

I have made quite a stack of little foam stamps over the last few weeks. Some inspired by nature walks.

tiny foam bird stamps by linda germain

I think small is good for this process, because they are easy to ink and print. I have made a few that are about 6″ long and I think that is big enough.

blue bell foam stamp

hand stamped cat print

Check out the self study printmaking classes that are available now.

 

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Exploring cyanotypes

monotype print, techniques / /

I my Simplify – Gelatin Prints class, I teach a mock cyanotype technique.

mock cyanotype gelatin plate monotype print

I love the mixture of black and cyan ink. I think it produces some nice rich impressions. Delicate weeds and intricate cut glass are good tools for this process.

cut glass as a stamping tool for gelatin plate printmaking

But today I made a few real cyanotype prints. I have been collecting inspiration online and have a list of approaches that I want to try. It does take some planning and preparation.

  • I mixed the chemicals 24 hours earlier.
  • Then I painted the mixture on to the papers
  • Wait for them to dry in a darkroom

Luckily, I had a bright sunny day. I started with few grasses and a test strip. I exposed a little more paper every minute, for a total of 5 minutes. The pale blue was exposed for 1 minute direct bright sun. And the dark blue at the bottom was exposed for 5 minutes

cyanotype test strip

I had prepared a digital negative of a photograph. My printer is low on toner and the black areas were a bit transparent, so I underexposed the print so I would not lose all the detail. I am pretty pleased with the result.

cyanotype print made with a digital negative

The light is always changing and different tools block the light differently too. I really wanted to do a glass cast shadow. I first attempt fail, not enough shadow. As time passed the shadows got longer. Second try much better.

cast shadow cyanotype

I even tried printing on a rock.

cyanotype prints by linda germain

I will continue to play with the cyanotype process. If you would like to explore my mock cyanotype process, then check out the details of the class Simplify – Gelatin Printmaking.

gelatin plate monotype print

 

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In and Out of the Studio

artist book, combined techniques, inspiration, monotype print / /

I think time outside of the studio, feeds what is created in the studio. What is your experience?

artist book relief prints

I often see shadows and leaves on my morning walks that I use as reference in my gelatin printmaking. I collect weeds and grasses to use as masking stencils too.

cast shadows great for drawing

Lately, I have been doing lots of line drawings of faces. Old photos have been the stimulus for some of these drawings. I have also been capturing new images of family members to use as reference.

stylized portrait

Even an extended vacation could inspire a new series or process.

gelatin prints bound into artist books

I just came back from Maine Media for a week long class, A Sense of Place with Isobel Lewis. I enjoyed exploring new book forms and printmaking methods.

If you are looking for a stay at home art vacation option, then check out the self study classes on my workshop page.

botanical gelatin plate monotype prints

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GIFTS from nature

drawings, foam plate printmaking, mark making / /

Nature has many gifts. We can simply look, listen, touch, smell and maybe even taste to receive the gifts.

raindrops on the lake

Today, my woods walk was filled with gifts:

  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Two Loons
  • Bright Blue Jays
  • Rain drops on the lake
  • Yellow dandelions

I have tried to draw in the woods and I just resist it. So today I took a few pictures and brought them back to the studio.

close up of dandelion

I abstracted the dandelion with a few sketches and then made a foam stamp. How could you bring the gifts of nature back to your studio?

abstracted dandelion foam relief stamp

weeds as stencils for gelatin printing

I always have a collection of delicate weeds and grasses for gelatin printmaking. If you like this style below, then check out the online class, Simplify.    You can sign up and be printing today! Read all the details on the workshop page. 
gelatin print, mock cyanotype

I love the monochromatic color palate of black and cyan. It is such a traditional printmaking color scheme.

gelatin print with grass as stencil

I have so many of these prints that I like to bind them into little journals. I alternate one print and one blank page, so there is space for writing. If you have a lot of single sheet prints and would like to make them into books, then you might want to check out the Bound Prints Workshop. Read all the details on the printmaking workshop page.

gelatin prints bound into a book by linda germain

I hope you find a way to receive the gifts of nature. Happy printing.

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