Find things that feel good

inspiration, mark making / /

Lately, I have been noticing and choosing habits and tools that feel good. For example, I have experimented with different book forms for my sketchbook. And the one that suits my approach to sketch booking is a soft cover coptic stitch 4.5″ x 6″.

sketching by the lake

This book is:

  • small enough to carry on my daily walks
  • flexible and can be folded to lie flat on any page
  • expands a bit to accommodate some collage

drawing tools

I have been looking for soft drawing tools that make strong marks with not too much pressure required.

I found:

  • a black gel pen at the dollar tree store that flows smoothly and is water resistant
  • black sharpie gives a bolder line with little effort
  • Crayola watercolor pencil is easy to make marks with
  • China markers require a little more effort but I like the water resistant quality

mark making papers

I am trying on the daily practice of drawing enso, Zen circles, the meditative circle drawing in a single exhale. I like the idea of connecting with my breath. Now, I have a lot of black circles, so I have been playing with adding color for fun. I experimented with different brushes, to find one that felt good in my hand and created an expressive line.

modified paint brushes for mark making

Even trying out new habits is a way of finding ways to feel good. I often start a method, and then tweak it to my liking. That is why I am playing with adding color to my Ensos.

enos, zen circle with water color

I encourage you to look at your mark making tools and habits and ask:

Does this feel good? Can I do this with ease? And find little things that work for you.

Sometimes an art class can stimulate new habits, if that interests you then check out the current online art classes.

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Ways to use trace monotypes

trace monoprint / /

You can use the fuzzy line quality to create interest in your mixed media work.

collage with your trace monotype prints

In the image above, I made the circles and dashed lines on a tea bag, using the trace monoprinting technique. Then I used that tiny print to create calm and repetition in this collage.

trace monotypes on tea bags

Tea bags and sewing patterns are great to use with the trace monotype process, because they are lightweight and durable. If printed with waterproof ink, then they make fantastic transparent collage elements.

collage with trace monotype print

In this collage, I cut the little vase and flower from a bigger print to add a line element focus.

gelatin prints with monotype marks

When these gelatin plate prints were nearly done, I decided to add the fuzzy trace monotype line to create movement and interest. This line quality is unique to trace monotype printing.

So ask yourself, Is there a time when this fuzzy line could add something to your mixed media printmaking?

Trace monotype print

This quick flower print was built on the ghost of a screen print. So gather some “failed” prints and see if they would be a good base for a trace monotype print.

Mixed media print with sewing

In this mixed media print above, the trace monotype print is the base and I sewed papers and prints on top of the trace monotype.

If you want to learn more about trace monotype printing, join us in the Draw into Print, online workshop. Read all the details on the workshop page. Class starts soon.

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Capture the energy with Gesture drawings

trace monoprint / /

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

gesture figure drawing

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.

gesture drawing of dog

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.

dog portrait

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.

gesture drawings of studio stuff

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 / /

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.

Trace Monotype print contour line drawing

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

trace monoprint line drawing

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.

multiple trace monotype prints

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 / /

I think creating takes both inspiration and action.

abstract birch trees

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.

leaves on the ground

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.

mixed media print

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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