New journals in my Etsy Shop!

I listed three new handmade journals in my Etsy shop. Please click here or the badge on the right side of this blog.

All 3 are covered with commercial fabric. The floral journal has signatures made with 80lb drawing paper. The two other journals have signatures made with 140lb watercolor paper.


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New sketches in my 4"x6" journal

Here is a link where I first talked about this 4"x6" sketchbook journal, click here.  

One of my favorite materials to use in my journals is bleeding tissue paper. I love how it mimics the look of watercolor.The colors and textures were pleasing enough for these two pages in my journal without adding any additional marks.

These two collages were created over a few days. Due only to time constraints in my schedule. I'm adapting the philosophy of non-pressure when creating art. Life has enough pressure without it seeping into my art.

Another collage using bleeding tissue paper. I started with scribbling black india ink on the blank page. The mat medium I used to adhere the bleeding tissue smeared the ink. At first I wanted to clean up the smeared ink. Then I realized that I like the imperfection.

 

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Instagram #2018bestnine

It's popular on Instagram to post the best liked images from your account at the end of the year. Here are the results from two previous years 2017bestnine and 2016bestnine. 

This year's results are very colorful. It's fun to see what artwork of mine that people like.

I'm excited see what 2018 will bring. Happy New Year! I wish everyone love, health and prosperity in 2019!

New sketches in my 4"x6" journal

Here is a link where I first talked about this 4"x6" sketchbook journal, click here.  

It's fun and challenging to create sketches in this journal that are outside my comfort zone. Then again, sometimes I want to create in my comfort zone. These two sketches were created after my day job on a Friday night. It was a perfect way to start my weekend.

These two sketches are continuing the theme of creating in my comfort zone...and that's not a bad thing.

I'm starting to see a trend with the sketches recently besides creating in my comfort zone. When I monoprint, I grab book pages or scraps of paper to create ghost prints to clean the printing surface. These recently sketches use these prints. The worn, imperfect prints add nice texture and color.
 

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New sketches in my 4"x6" journal update

Here is a link where I first talked about this 4"x6" sketchbook journal, click here.  

These are two sketches that I started before leaving for my day job and finished 4 days later. As the saying goes, "art is about the journey". No matter how long it takes to finish.

 
Messy, blobs sketch. Enough said.

I considered this sketch done. I was concern that it was going to be overworked.

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New journals in my Etsy Shop!

I listed three new handmade journals in my Etsy shop. Please click here or the badge on the right side of this blog.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

New sketches in my 4"x6" journal update

Here is a link that where I first talked about this journal, click here.  

This quick sketch was done on a Saturday morning. It was a great way to start the weekend!
 

Two quick sketches that was started before I left to my day job and finished after I got home. The hashtag that I use a lot these days is #makingtimeforart.

These two sketches were created this morning (Saturday, 11/17/18). It seems like a new routine for me to start my weekend with quick sketch or two. 

 


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New Journal - Coptic and Long Stitch with tabs

In my continuing exploration of bookmaking, I wanted to try my hand at adding tabs to the spine of the book. The tabs add a nice detail to the look of the stitching and design of the book. This book measuring 5.5"x8.5"x1" using Coptic and Long stitches sewn with waxed linen thread.

Sorry for not taking process photos of the building of this book. I hope my explanation and finished photos is helpful.

I gathered odds and ends supplies that I have on hand. I covered two 5.5"x8.5" board that was attached to pads of paper with black fabric (inside cover) and abstract painted canvas (outside cover). Cut up unstretched, primed canvas into nine 11"x8.5" pieces to use as the signatures. I decided to paint the primed side of the canvas signatures. The book will have an exposed spine so it will be a nice detail to have colorful spine of the signatures showing. The two 1"x4" tabs were cut from the same abstract painted canvas used for the outside covers.  

I'm happy with the way this book turned out. It has a nice weight to it due to the board covers and canvas. Also, the book lays nice and flat due to using Coptic and Long stitches.

front cover

back cover

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New journals in my Etsy Shop!

 I listed two new handmade journals in my Etsy shop. Please click here or the badge on the right side of this blog.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

Album Cover Accordion Book

Awhile back I found some old albums at the thrift store. I noticed some scratches on the records so I knew that no one would want to buy these albums...except an artist. I thought that the covers would work as book covers. Even though there were scratches, I checked to make sure the albums weren't valuable beforehand.

The first album that I decided to repurposed into a book was a 78 record, which is 10". I cut down the album to four 5" squares. That's a manageable size for a book. I haven't created an accordion book in quite some time so, I thought I would use one set for this type of book.

I need to remember to take process photos. Most times I'm in a creative whirlwind that I forget to take out my phone to take photos along the way. The materials I used besides the album cover were Strathmore Bristol Vellium 300 Series paper as the substrate, copies of original sheet music, scraps of pattern and texture tissue paper, monoprinted paper, pens and various types of glues. The finished book measures 5 inch square closed and 5"x30" open.

front cover

back cover

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