Ready to Be Inspired?

Recently, I was on my way to a doctor’s appointment in Boston. It was a new adventure for me, train travel, subway and city navigation. But it was a sunny day and I was open to the adventure.

granite wall at boston's Children's hospital

The granite wall of the Boston Children’s hospital caught my attention. After my appointment I crossed the street and got a closer look. It is a grayscale garden in granite. According to this article it was created with a sandblasting technique. Read more about the process in this article.

Nature in the City at Boston Children's Hospital

Mikyoung Kim Design is the designer of the playful graphic. The idea is “Playful nature in the City”

dragonfly at Boston Children's Hospital

One reason I was so taken by the image is that I am working on a image for a collaborative book. The theme is What’s in Your Garden? I am an apartment dweller and enjoy other people’s gardens.

sandblasted granite wall at Boston Children's Hospital

I like:

  • simplified silhouettes
  • lots of layers
  • monochromatic images

I have been noticing the cast shadows on the road of my daily bike ride. I was thinking about layering this cast shadows of roadside vines, flowers and weeds into “My Garden.”

I had been imagining something very similar to the granite wall at the Boston Children’s Hospital. I love the complex layers and the way it draws the viewer in for a closer look.

I think I will use a camera to capture my silhouettes.

Are you ready to capture inspiration that crosses your path?

I hope so.

 

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Last day to join the online art class – Books as Art Materials

Class starts today – Books as ART Materials. You still have time to join us.

Diptych made with book pages

We will be taking apart old books and making new art and art tools. This is the class for you if you have been collecting books with the intent of doing something with them.

Check out the details on the workshop page and register today.

refillable journal from old books

Last day to join the online art class – Books as Art Materials Read More »

Love text? Make some art with books

I love text as texture.

wall book from old pages

I love handwriting that draws the viewer in closer to the art work.

Cut glue and reshape old books

I love finding my own meaning in the everyday.

black out poems on book pages

I have collected old books for several years. Some of them are beautiful and precious to me. Some of the books have interesting scribbles or marks from former reader. Some have become art and art materials.

old books make great art materials

trace monoprint on old book page

I am sharing my ideas on how to use old books as art and art material in the online class – Books as ART Materials. Class starts Friday, so if you are interested in using some old books to make new stuff, then check out the details and join us today.

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What is easy for YOU?

Do you have something in your life that is easy for you to do? Something that is natural? Some activity where you are not afraid of failing because you know that you will come out the other side?

cut up book pages for collage

Learn from that! Transfer that confidence into a new activity. Be Brave.

I think we all have safe, creative, things that we do confidently. It could be any thing:

  • an art making technique
  • cooking skill
  • athletic activity
  • work based skill
  • family responsibility

Think about it!

I know you have something in your life, where you are confident enough to “fail.”

pages rolled into stamps

For me it is gelatin printmaking. I am confident enough to play, fail and know that I will eventually succeed.

I teach with this type of philosophy. Failure and ugly art generally is necessary and leads to more beautiful creations. If you would like to embrace this style of learning then join me in the current workshop Book as ART Material.

collage a new journal cover from old books

  • We will cut up old books and make new tools, books and collages.
  • Embrace the page, spine, cover and text of the book.
  • Move through the fear of the book being too precious
  • Create new art that is meaningful to you

taped tab bind with old book covers

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Pages into poems

One thing you can do with old books it create black out or white out poems.

white out poem in old book

I use the word poem loosely. I like to go through pages and circle words that jump out at me. Then the “poem” makes sense to me, even if it is on a subconscious level.

black out poem in book page

I love to use the blacking out lines to create patterns, shapes and values. Again it is a meditative process, where I allow the finished product to evolve.

old book page into art project

If you would like to explore black out poems and other ways to use books as ART material, then click here to read the details about the online workshop, Books as ART Materials. 

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