I must admit, I am not a big book reader, but I do love books. They can be intimate treasures that have been touched by many different people.
Story – Dream – Adventure – Escape!
I love the old unwanted books. I love to hold them and turn the pages and take in the experience.
These are the things I notice:
- text, words and stories
- feel of the paper
- design of the cover
- Notes of ownership
- Scribbles of a child
- Glue mesh and paper of the spine
- pockets & labels
- withdrawal notice
- copyright dates
- publisher
- illustrations, drawing and graphics
- embossed covers
Most of the books that I use to make art were destined for the recycling bin, so I think it is a win-win situation that I can use the parts to make new art.
As the book is deconstructed, I learn more about and and love it even more. Of course some books feels so precious to me and they do not get torn up and cut apart. At least not yet.
Sometimes I use the covers and make new journals for drawings, doodles and prints.
If you have a collection of unwanted books and are brave enough to repurpose them into new works of art, then join us in the online art class – Books as ART materials. Class starts soon. READ the details on the workshop page.