Double purpose

I love it when things have more than one use.

The cover of this book, made in a class with Doris Arndt, was collaged with thick dimensional items before it was painted.

The first layers of paint were partly removed as the piece was being used as a printing plate on the pages....the covers became  giant stamps, rolled with paint and pressed to the paper to make the background of the pages.

The final layers of paint included some metallics, and waxed linen was used for the Coptic binding.

The energy in the classroom was invigorating as we all glued pieces willy-nilly and slapped paint with abandon.  Fun!  Yes!!

A bounty of books....

Pictured is one of the bookshelves on which I keep the books I have made. Some of these volumes have completed pages, some do not.

It really doesn't matter to me whether or not the book gets filled as it is the painting of the pages and the binding of the book that are important to me.

Gradually, many of the pages have photos added....photos which are altered before or after application to the page.  Journaling comes along eventually.

There is one book in which I am actually using as a writing journal, tho I have to admit, the writing is done in such a way that anyone else would have trouble reading it. The acrylic-washed Stonehenge pages look old and the brown ink of the pen adds to the ancient look. I love the feel of these pages as much, or more, as I like the look of the pages.

 This book was made in a class with Albie Smith when she came here to Colorado.  We had a great time touring around, painting pastepapers, and making this book.

Have a colorful day!!

A Tiny Book and Colorful Angels

This tiny book was made in a class with Doris Arndt.  We carved a design into the bookboard covers, covered the board with papers and pressed into the carving to make a beautiful relief design.

 

The pages were washed with pale colors and the wet pages were sprinkled with salt.

Measuring the spine for the stitching was a real bear, but making a template made the job much easier.

In case you have not yet figured it out, I do love making books.  Tearing the paper for the pages, painting the pages, folding them into signatures......all relaxing activities.  Then we get to the binding of the pages! It is at this point that I sometimes get all tensed up!  This is not a good feeling for someone who works with books and papers to relax!

I have a solution to this stress problem.....now my imaginary book-binding angel is always standing at my right shoulder telling me to breathe and calm down. It works!  He wandered into one of my classes at Art Unraveled, and got me through a frustrating time with fumbly fingers.  He now is always present when I need him, shining brightly in orange and pink. Thanks,  EGE!!

(Do kind things for people...be real, be helpful and caring;  you never know how you will affect someone and help them out for years to come.) 

Since I brought up art retreats, I must add that I believe that one of the best parts of all the art retreats is the friends one makes at these events.  Every year we greet our art buddies and enjoy being in the company of people who "get it". In many of our "real" lives, we are surrounded by people who humor us, give a compliment or two, perhaps, but they don't understand that we HAVE TO create.  Some have even wondered, "It's nice, but what's the point?"

For a look into what happens at art retreats (AND some actual class lessons), check out the new book by Ricë Freeman-Zachary, now available at Amazon......the book, not Ricë.  Destination Creativity is now available for shipping.... MY copy is on it's way!!

Go forth and Create!

Belts and Books.....

Today's photo shows the results of some of my thrift store/ library book sale shopping.

Using the covers of great old books for the covers of your journals makes for a fun look.....and saves some dumpster space for really unusable things.  The cover to the right of Westward HO!  is a painted book board cover on which a photo has been applied. I am one of the few people who go to the library sales with a tape measure and looking only at covers....people give me some very strange looks.

The journal I made for use at Art Unraveled and Art and Soul has a great cover... Ten Nights in a Bar Room!!  Of course, I only go to the happy hours to see friends and to share what we did that day in classes.  Right, Earl?

Old belts are great for making the sewn-over-tapes binding.

This binding allows the pages to lie flat when you are working on them which makes for much easier photo alteration and journaling. It is really tough, also, and allows for a great deal of handling without falling apart....important for much-used journals.

Thanks to LK Ludwig for the covers/belts ideas!

Happy journaling!  Go paint some pages!  Write some words!

The Yellow Book

The binding is a sewn-over-tapes binding using waxed linen and a thrift store belt. LK Ludwig taught me this binding one year at Art and Soul.  The covers are re-purposed book board covered with paste paper made in an Albie Smith class.  Inside, the pages are a variety of colors and textures using very inexpensive watercolor paints. Making the pages is a great way to play in puddles of water and pigments....no stress. What you get is what you get!