mixed media printmaking Archives - Page 3 of 17

Time to admire – gelatin printmaking

gelatin print tips, mixed media printmaking, monotype print / Linda Germain / October 13, 2021

Gelatin Printmaking can be fast and furious. The process lends itself to pulling lots of prints and layers with minimal preparation.

It is easy to get lost in the process.

I often tell my students that it can be like a roller coaster of ups and downs. I may pull several pleasing impressions to be followed by several ugly prints.

To enjoy the roller coaster ride of gelatin printmaking:

Know ahead of time that there will be prints you like and others you don’t
Focus on the things you like, rather than the problems
Take time to admire your successes. Pin it to the wall, stand back and enjoy.

Another tool I use to create success in my printmaking, is to embrace the 80/20 rule. If I get 2 outstanding prints out of 1o then I consider it a success. Those 8 other prints inform and create space for the magical pieces that I really love.

If you want to create more pleasing gelatin prints, then join us in the online class, Monochromatic Mountains. Read all the details on the workshop page.

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3 reasons to take an online art class

inspiration, mark making, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / October 11, 2021

I love taking art classes in person and online.

When I need some inspiration for my art practice taking a class often helps me generate new ideas. Often the class is a new subject or technique. Or sometimes I take a class because I love the teacher and her philosophy stimulates my process.

Recently, in person options have been limited, so online art classes have been my choice.

Online workshops are great because:

I have access to the lessons right from the comfort of my studio. No travel, traffic or parking challenges. I have all my tools readily available and I don’t have to pack up or lug supplies to the workshop location.
More bang for my buck. Online classes are often much less expensive than an in person class. Also I enjoy the benefits of feedback and encouragement from a wider group of classmates. Influences of an international group of students in online classes is unique.
I don’t have to take notes or worry about missing key skills. Most online workshops are downloadable or have lifetime access. So I can watch videos and do lessons over and over again. And each time I learn something new from the same material.

I hope I have encouraged you to check out online art classes to inspire and support your art practice.

If you are interested check out the current online art classes that I am offering.

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Magazines and books – sources of inspiration

altered books, book arts, drawings, inspiration, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / September 28, 2021

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

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.

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:

Words – for found poems and collages
Fonts – for drawing
Photos for drawing references
Thumbnails of larger pictures – composition ides
Illustrations – for drawing ideas
Figures and silhouettes for stencil making

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.

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Masking stencil combined with soft foam plates

foam plate printmaking, masking stencils, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / August 23, 2021

I think a combination of different quality of marks often creates a more interesting print.

Foam plate relief printing often creates solid white line kind of mark. You can create variety in the line quality by drawing the plates with different kinds of tools.

In the print above I used a pen, pen cap and found weeds to make the foam plates on the left. But to create the bolder marks on the right I combined a solid plate with “masking stencils.” I used plant material for the lower right image and cut paper stencils to create the shapes on the upper right side.

Masking stencils like those shown above are not usually used in relief printing. But if they are super flat they can be combined with a plain unmarked foam plate with pleasing results.

I thought of this combination of materials, because as a gelatin printmaker I have stacks and stacks of masking stencils.

So as you work on creating your mixed media prints be open to combining processes and materials in new and unconventional ways.

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What to draw when it feels like work?

drawings, mark making tools, mixed media printmaking / Linda Germain / July 12, 2021

If you are like me and don’t really like to draw, then it can be challenging to come up with ideas for drawing subjects.

A few classic subjects:

self portraits
fruit and veggies
flowers

I think the important thing is that you are interested in the subject matter. That will make it easier to stay committed to the drawing. Most recently I have been distilling my marks down to basic shapes.