Mixed Media Printmaking Blog

Capture the energy with Gesture drawings

trace monoprint / Linda Germain / May 4, 2023

Gesture drawings are fast, loose and scribbly. They take about a minute to do and they capture the essence of the subject.

Often in a live figure drawing class, we will start with 20 one minute gesture drawings. It is fun to layer several on top of each other. You can capture the energy of objects and animals too.

I like to use gesture style drawings when making trace monotype prints. The speedy nature of the drawing compliments the trace monotype process. Though I don’t “trace” when doing these gesture drawing trace monotypes. I think I lose some other fluid energy when tracing. I used a copyright free image from Pixabay for this dog series.

When you want to loosen up your drawing:

Get a stack of copy paper
Find a tool or 2 from your studio
Look at it – Do an air tracing with your finger
Feel the energy
Set a timer and
Do 10 or 20 one minute gesture drawings

I bet you will have one or 2 drawings that you like.

If you would like to explore trace monotype printmaking with some of your drawings, then join us in the upcoming class, Draw into Print. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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Play with Contour Line Drawings

drawings, trace monoprint / Linda Germain / April 27, 2023

Contour line drawings can simply an object to its essence. I love the flow and energy of contour line drawings. So little can say so much.

This type of drawing requires that you observe and follow the edges of the parts and notice how they meet and interact.

In the images above I used contour line drawing technique to make trace monotype prints. The original drawing is used as a template/reference to produce this fuzzy line and plate ink print.

With the trace monotype printing process you can use one drawing that you love to make unique multiple prints. They are all similar and yet a little different too.

I like this process because I don’t love to draw and this is one way to give my drawings that I do like new life.

If you would like to explore Trace Monotype Printing then, check out the details of the online class, Draw into Print.

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Inspiration and action

inspiration / Linda Germain / April 3, 2023

I think creating takes both inspiration and action.

It is important to give yourself time for each. This might take a little patience.

I sometimes have an internal conflict when I am in inspiration mode and really want to be in action mode. Or the other way around. This is when I try to pause and remind myself to give me time and space.

On the inspiration end, I

Take walks in the woods
Browse Pinterest and
Go to Museums or galleries

To get into action mode, I

Set up my studio space ahead of time
Use a 20 minute timer
Do daily mark making

In between inspiration and action, I think there is an incubation period. This is the magical time when ideas develop into expression. You may not know how the evolution happens, but at some point marks, images and ideas seem to fall into place.

I encourage you to notice your cycle of making. This noticing helps me go with the flow in those quiet times of incubation.

Coming soon, the Torn Trees Workshop. It is an online mixed media class. We will use gelatin printmaking, collage and mark making to build abstract forests. Get all the details on the workshop page.

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Get closer

inspiration, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / March 28, 2023

On my daily walks, I often take a few steps off the path to get closer to a tree, some moss, or a branch.

I think, if I pause and really notice nature it will give me ideas for my art making.

I often have my phone available to take pictures. I want to remember the colors, texture and mood that I am feeling. Sometimes I can capture the moment, but often the photo is lacking.

So I decided to savor the time in the woods and not to worry about bringing it back to the studio. The daily walk can inform my mark making rather than be a photographic reference.

Getting super close to textures and patterns turns the everyday into abstraction. This can spark creative ideas. These ideas don’t have to be literal or linear.

That is where I got the idea to create the mixed media class, Torn Trees. After being surrounded be trees on my walks, decided to play with printing some. My first inspiration was the tall pine trees with nubby branches that stand on the hill by the lake.

These abstract tree prints are about using shape, line and texture to create a feel of the forest. I suggest that you get closer to nature in your day and see what it does for your creativity.

If you would like to play with printing, collaging and drawing to make abstract forests, then check out the details on the Torn Trees Workshop page.

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Sorting Art Stuff

mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / March 22, 2023

Does your art space feel like a safe haven of creativity?

Do you love the tools and art work that fills the space? Or are there supplies that feel burdensome, but you are keeping them “just in case”?

I have mixed emotions about the state of my studio. There are corners and tables that feel good and then there are boxes, bins and materials that I want to let go of. But for some reason I keep putting if off.

I want the process to be one of self compassion and self care. I would like to find “homes” for some tools and supplies, but maybe it is just junk.

The whole studio seems like a big task, so I thought I could tackle one box or bench or shelf. But that has not happened yet. Spring is a good time to sort and make way for new life.

In addition, to studio shape up, I have been working on a new class, Torn Trees – a mixed media printmaking workshop. Check out the details.

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