artist book Archives - Linda Germain

Sketchbook a safe place?

artist book, sketchbook ideas / Linda Germain / March 10, 2025

Is your sketchbook the safe place that everyone suggests that it is? For me, I would have to say sometimes. Other times I have sketchbook envy. 🙂

Even after all these years, I am not a natural sketchbooker. And that is my primary art making activity these days. I am filling boxes and boxes of handmade sketchbooks with all sorts of bindings and marks.

I have so many that I can see trends and periods of focus. I am finding this looking back and noticing to be informative.

I have noticed:

how I have tried many bindings and found one that works for me
a reminder of classes I took and techniques that I have tried
that over time the sketchbook has become a safer place to play with mark making

At one time, I made hard cover books that seemed too precious to use for a sketchbook practice. Many of them are still unused.

I also have a sense of urgency to complete a sketchbook. And when I do finish it, I like to hold it and look through the pages. I have been filling a sketchbook about once a month. They are 6″ x 6″ pages and 84 in a book.

Things that make my sketchbook feel like a safe place:

don’t share it with others
know that I can collage over that ugly page
try new things without much expectation
look back at old sketchbooks and be impressed

If you would like to fill some sketchbook pages with abstract forests, then checkout the featured class, Torn Trees. It is on sale for the month of March, was ~~$75~~. now only $50.

12 lessons, 17 videos and lots of fun!

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Change up your routine

artist book, inspiration, mark making / Linda Germain / February 25, 2025

Today I walked on the wintery beach, instead of the snowy woods by the lake. Gosh, I am so lucky to have these places to walk.

It is a 20 minute drive to the beach and only two minutes to the woods trail. And I am glad that I changed it up today. It was high tide which left a fresh trail of shells, seaweed and driftwood.

I followed a flock of sandpipers along the shore. I breathed in the salty air and enjoyed the ocean waves. On the way back I collected some driftwood sticks for an upcoming art project.

This change of scenery gave me a fresh start to the day. I encourage you:

to walk a new route,
notice the beauty,
and let it feed your creative day.

Just a reminder you can save $25. on the Make Marks + Books class until the end of February – now only $60. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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The feel of your art

artist book / Linda Germain / February 7, 2025

I like making artist’s books and journals because they can be held and touched. They are “precious” but can be felt and experienced in an intimate way.

I can feel the:

texture of the paper
stickiness of the crayon
slickness of pen and pencil
smoothness of the ink

Somehow these feelings combine into a story or conversation. I think the layers of marks can become different stories for different viewers. That is what the books that I make with the techniques from the Make Marks Workshop is all about. Creating stories through marks and layers that allow the viewer to come to unique conclusions.

Marks can evoke energy that was felt at the time of creation. The heaviness of the mark, or the light pencil scribble tells a different story. I think that the layering of marks overtime reveals the makers intent, that can be conscious or subconscious.

As the maker, it can be a challenge it let things unfold. It can also be hard to share the end product with others. I find it easier to share when my vulnerability is a bit hidden in the layers.

What about you?
Do you like to share your work?
Do you think books are too precious to handle?
Is the vulnerability hidden in your marks and layers?

If you would like to explore Mark Making and create an artist’s book, then check out all the details of the online class, Make Marks + Books. You can save $25 this month, February 2025, now only $60 ~~was $85~~.

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Join Me – New Class – stamp making

artist book, collage, combined techniques, monotype print, sketchbook ideas, stamping tools / Linda Germain / October 14, 2024

I am excited about the new class that starts October 25th. This class is about:

Making small stamps out of sticky backed foam
Slipknot book form
a gelatin print lesson and
a bit of collage

I love this combination of techniques. There is something for everyone. So you can choose a focus that fits your interest at this time.

The slipknot binding is great for sketchbooking, because it can be flipped and folded to always lie flat. It takes a bit of thread management to link the pages together, but it is a pretty easy book form.

I am including a gelatin print session so you will have prints to respond to with collage and stamping.

The collage lesson is just to get beyond the blank page.

Read all the details and join us in Stamp Making + Mixed Media Book Workshop.

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Simple tools – bold marks

artist book, book arts, combined techniques, foam plate printmaking / Linda Germain / May 31, 2024

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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