Why Books?

Books are absolutely amazing. They contain every aspect of art. Books can dance depending on the structure devised. You can put words, drawings, illustrations and paintings on the pages. You turn the pages at your own pace creating your private movie.

Books are a great way to put pencil to paper, to encourage kids, teens and adults to write, draw, paint and make. You can utilize items like old wallpapers or very thin strips of paper and re-purpose them by making small books.

Once you know how to make a couple of different types of books, you are only limited by your imagination.

This cereal box book (pictured below) is the book that really got me started thinking about how to better craft books I will use to sketch in. I could not seem to draw or write in sketchbooks I purchased. So I thought of a way to make it so I would use the book. I learned this long stitch from Barb Tetenbaum at The Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. They have an excellent book arts program. Some of the pages fold out. The edges are guilded with metalic silver pen. I made a magnet closed butterfly case to house the book. The book appealed to me because it used items like a cereal box and re-purposed it into something useful.

Books are the facilitator. What you write in a book and make happen in your life makes all of the difference.

Aren't you inspired when you go to a gallery opening or museums? Does that inspire you to draw and create?

Comments

[Jessica]

i love your work, it's beautiful. i have been making books since i was a child and love the artform. i am still learning binding techniques, but enjoying the process. i added a link to your blog on my own, hope you don't mind. Have a great day!