mark making Archives - Page 3 of 5

Layers of marks – a story

artist book, inspiration, mark making, mark making tools / Linda Germain / November 3, 2023

I like to make marks with:

stamping tools and the gelatin plate. The details can be amazing.
a pencil/crayon and my non-dominate hand. The line can be raw and authentic.
small hand made stamps. The patterns can be very stabilizing.

I combine these and a few other mark making techniques to make visual story books.

If you are curious about this approach to art making, then check out the details of the upcoming class Make Marks + Books.

This 7 lesson class is about exploring mark making and using a few simple printmaking techniques to make artist books. We will use a non-linear approach to layering and responding to the images. It is intuitive and yet guided by design principles, like variety and repetition.

Join me in the online class – Make Marks + Books. Give yourself the gift of time to explore.

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Seeing things differently

drawings, inspiration, mark making / Linda Germain / October 5, 2023

Our perception is our reality. And we can learn to perceive things differently. Okay that was a little deep. Let’s lighten up.

In my recent days, I have been doing a lot of line drawings of faces. I have done self portraits, zoom participants, and other images as references. I have to admit most of the drawings are not very strong likenesses of the subject.

This does not bother me. I am using the drawing process to change my perception and to build my seeing/drawing skills. I like the quick contour line drawing format. It is easy to squeeze in a few drawings every day.

I can practice noticing the different shapes of peoples facial features even when I am not drawing. This will help improve my actual drawings.

So much can be expressed in a simple line. Take emojis for example. Emotion is conveyed with just a few lines. I would love to develop the skills to capture unique expression with limited line.

One way that I try to learn to perceive differently is to do a drawing based on a photo and then trace the contour lines of the photo. Then compare the traced lines to the ones that I thought I saw in the first drawing (without tracing).

It is very helpful to me. For example this last drawing was based on a tracing from a photo of myself. I notice that my eyes are not equal and my face is not as long as I usually draw it. I challenge you to question your perception today. Be open to seeing in a new way.

If you want to explore, drawing, tracing and monoprinting to expand your seeing skills, then consider the online class, Draw into Print – a trace monotype workshop. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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Explore Meditative Marks

drawings, mark making / Linda Germain / September 27, 2023

What is your go to doodle? Do scribble while you are in meetings or on the phone? This may be a way to engage a different part of your brain.

Lately, my marks have been dashes and lines with watercolor or acrylic ink. Sometimes I do long lines that become a structure for a list on another day.

I think you could make what ever doodle or mark feels good then explore it. It could be a way to quiet the mind or to get your creative juices flowing. And I bet you will end up with some cool patterned papers that can be used for collage projects.

I suggest:

Use whatever ink, pen or paint that is handy
Play with different media and paper
Trust your gut. Let go of needing to know.

Check out the current online classes that are available now.

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Try something new or different

collage, drawings, inspiration, mark making, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / May 31, 2023

I have been making painted pages and collages lately. It is a bit new and different for me.

Experimenting with a new technique or material can breathe new life into your art making practice. It might be a great way to stimulate ideas for your next series or project.

Or you could find a way to integrate new skills into your traditional practice.

Are you inspired by images that you see online? Ask yourself what is the quality that you admire and then see if there is a way to bring that quality into your work.

It could be:

the subject matter
the shape, color or simplicity or
the medium or format

I encourage you today play with something new or different and then notice if it stimulates something in your practice.

An art class is one way to try something new, check out the current workshops and see if any are a good fit for you.

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Find things that feel good

inspiration, mark making / Linda Germain / May 23, 2023

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″.

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

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

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.

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.

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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