inspiration

Magazines and books – sources of inspiration

altered books, book arts, drawings, inspiration, mixed media printmaking / /

Once or twice a year I get a stack of old magazines from a library or other recycling source.

Stencils from magazines

It is a treat to feast on the pictures and text. I cut stencils and roll pages into mark making tools, make collages and more.

book as photo subject

I go through the magazines several different times for collage and drawing projects.

cut up book pages for collage
cut out word poems

Parts of the magazine that inspire me:

  1. Words – for found poems and collages
  2. Fonts – for drawing
  3. Photos for drawing references
  4. Thumbnails of larger pictures – composition ides
  5. Illustrations – for drawing ideas
  6. Figures and silhouettes for stencil making

poems from magazines

So go to your library or recycling center and get a stack of magazines and make stuff. The images and words that you find are a jumping off place for your own uniques expression. Twist, crop and rearrange the words and images to make something new.

Make some origami boxes – There is a free tutorial here.

origami box from magazines

 

Magazines and books – sources of inspiration Read More »

Look back and move forward

inspiration / /

One way to fill the well of inspiration and creativity maybe to scroll through images from 5 years ago.

yoga on a paddle board

I take about 6000 pictures a year. Most of them are about my art process. I use Lightroom to index the images.

alnoba with art class

I scrolled through 2016 and I discovered:

  • I was living in a huge warehouse loft
  • I walked in the city daily
  • I went to the museum a few times
  • I bought a car and paddleboard
  • I attended 2 in person art classes
  • I participated in 3 online classes

woodblock type

Those photos and memories gave me some ideas about what might be missing from my current activities.

  • Take more art classes
  • Find ways to be with other artists
  • Find ways to get to the Museum a few times

iPad drawing

So you might want to try this image review, if you want ideas on “new” habits, actions, or activities to your art practice. If you want to take more art classes too, then check out the current online printmaking classes that are being offered.

artists book by Linda Germain

Look back and move forward Read More »

Go back to your sketchbook

artist book, inspiration, relief prints / /

I have been using a sketchbook a lot more in the past year. It is quite satisfying to fill one up.

sketch booking by the lake

Sometimes I get too focused on finishing up a sketchbook. They end up on a shelf or in a box.Pamphlet stitched books

Then I remembered that they can be used as source material for more drawings and prints. So this may be obvious to you, but it is a new idea for me, to use the original sketches as reference to make more drawings.

sketchbook

So get out some of those old sketchbooks and draw! Some of these doodles and drawings make even inspire printing plates or stencils. Keep it fun!

foam plates for relief printing

If you are interested in relief printing with foam plates, then check out the details on the workshop page and join us in the Soft Plate Relief Printing class. This online class starts soon.

 

Go back to your sketchbook Read More »

Shadow and shapes for drawing

inspiration, masking stencils, tools / /

You know that part of my practice is to go to the woods for inspiration. I love to capture cast shadows and use them as a drawing reference.

shadows and drawing practice

Using the photo as reference seems to help me to see shapes instead of leaves and branches.

shadow shape leaves

I do the outline drawing one day and come back and fill the shadow shape in with black paint on another day.

I hope this inspired you to look for shadow shapes to draw. Sometimes I have to take a lot of shadow pictures before I get one that is good for reference. Got to love our phones and digital cameras.

Sometimes I use shadow shapes to make stencils for gelatin printmaking.

Happy Printing!

Shadow and shapes for drawing Read More »

Circle back to the woods

fabric prints, foam plate printmaking, inspiration, mark making tools / /

I stopped walking in the woods for the last few weeks, because I found a tick attached to my neck and I had stayed on the trail.

trees inspire printmaking

But today, I went back to my old trail in the woods by the lake and was so supported by the energy of the place. I had let that little bug, fear and frustration stop me from going on my “healing” walks.

lake walks for inspiration

I shared the trail with a big dear and a quiet blue heron and plenty of shadows.

shadows for drawing reference

I bring that good energy back to the studio and get more done.

shadow shape leaves

I always find tools and inspiration in the woods. Different seasons offer different tools. Currently I am looking for strong twigs and weeds to use in the soft plate relief class, starting soon.

soft relief plates

This is a low tech way to make relief style plates without needing to carve your design. You can use the process to print on paper or fabric.

mud cloth style printed fabric

Check out the details on the printmaking workshop page. And start collecting tools and inspiration!

 

Circle back to the woods Read More »