collage

Found Poems

artist book, book arts, collage / /

I am getting ready for the Books as ART Materials class and having fun making found poems.

found poems

Books are mostly words and pages, so I like to find ways to use those elements in new art work.

found poem by linda germain

I like to:

  • Cut words and phrases out of several different books, with different font sizes
  • Then rearrange the words into a 4  line poem
  • Some poems I really love
  • And some are just part of the process of making

collaged poem

I also use old book pages at scrap to catch excess glue from the glue stick.

collage poem by linda germain

Give this meditative poem making a try! 

If you want to explore more ways to use old books, then join us in Books As ART Materials, the online class. Read the details here.

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Qualities of Books – as ART Materials

artist book, book arts, collage / /

I wanted to share the qualities that I look for in books to be used as ART Materials.

When I use books as ART Materials I use:

  • Cover cloth – collage and journals
  • Book board – new books
  • Pages and text – poems and printmaking
  • Spine materials and bits – collage
  • pockets and old marks – collage

So if you are hunting and gathering books for re-use look at those parts closely.

book as materials

It is fun to see books with new eyes for what is possible. Sometimes I just use pages as newsprint pickups when gelatin printing.

newsprint pick up

But then other times the bits and pieces can be worked into an abstract landscape collage.

abstract landscape collage

I hope I have given you some new ways to look at old books that were headed for the recycling bin. Want to join us in the online class, Books as at Materials? Read the details and join us today.

 

 

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12 collages at once

book arts, collage / /

Thinking sometimes gets in the way of making. The fear of getting it wrong or making mistakes can stop us in our tracks.

small collages with book pages

I know that when I am just laying down marks and materials, and not analyzing too much, that is when the magic happens.

tiny paper collage

So in preparation for the online class, Books as ART Materials, I have been playing with paper and cloth scraps.

12 collage at once

Torn scraps are fun to use because they often already have and interesting shape. This way I am responding to the existing materials and not really needing to create something new.

It is also a fun way to start or end a day of making art.

If this sounds interesting to you, then join us in the online class, Books as ART Materials. Class starts soon. Read the details on the workshop page.

expressive collage by linda germain

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Gift idea – Crop monotype prints & collage

collage / /

Gift idea - crop and collage monotype prints - Linda Germain

 

If you are anything like me then you have piles of prints with potential. Here’s an idea for small gifts for the holidays:

  • Gather a stack of prints that you are willing to crop
  • Choose a collage substrate. It could be small panels, wooden blocks, heavy paper stock, foam core….
  • Make a cropping window the same size as your substrate (See upper left corner of picture above)
  • Hover over your prints with the cropping window to find a pleasing composition
  • Mark and cut down the print
  • Glue, tape or collage the print to the substrate
  • Enhance as desired, writing, stamping, collage
  • Sign and give as gift!

Crop Monotypes and Make gifts!

These tiny treasures are great little gifts for friends and family. They can have a little bit of your unique self in a corner of their home or work. They can be little reminders or bits of inspiration.

This is one way that I use prints that were less than perfect or were just warm up or clean up papers.

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Cut shape to make a gelatin Print collage

2010, collage / /

oollaged gelatin print by linda germainSimple sometimes works when gelatin printmaking.  I often work in a roller coaster like fashion

  • going up the hill to chaos and 
  • then back down the other side to simplicity
  • find success somewhere along the way

Go with the Flow when Gelatin Printing

I am thinking about the class I am teaching this week.  Hmm 90 degree weather today.  It is suppose to cool off by Thursday.  I will have to just go with the flow.

  • Let go of the things I can not control
  • Embrace the prints, images and tools that are working
  • Don’t expect things to be the same on another day

One way that I get into the flow is my yoga printmaking warm up exercise.  If you have not seen that video then check it out here.

The things that I like about this little 4″ x 6″ gelatin print  for the ICAD challenge:

  • full range of value
  • 3 simple shapes
  • the shapes are similar but varied sizes
  • The shapes create negative spaces that are interesting.
  • I like th contrast of the delicate squares in the background and the bold circles in the foreground.

I put together a new video yesterday and will share it with you soon.  Join us in the next session of Make Monotypes, the online printmaking class.

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