book arts

Make Marks Supplies List

book arts, drawings, handmade books, mark making, mark making tools / /

You can make interesting marks with simple tools. Enjoy this quick video.

 

In this online class we will layer marks to reveal a visual story. Read all the details on the workshop page.

The suggested supplies:

  • Gelatin plate – FREE recipe here
  • Speedball water based ink
  • brayer
  • paper of your choice – I like
    • 90 lb drawing paper 12″ x 18″
    • Rice paper on a roll or 12″ x 18″
    • Tracing paper on a roll or 12″ x 18″
    • I like these sizes and papers because I am making a long landscape shaped book, but you could do the techniques at any size. So use what you have
    • One large sheet of sturdy printmaking paper, watercolor paper or mixed media paper for the cover. I use Arnhem. But you can use what you have.
  • Cardboard
  • thin easy to cut craft foam sheets
  • set of small children’s blocks (dollar store)
  • water based markers
  • Variety of found mark making tools (see photo below)
  • glue
  • exacto knife
  • soft crayons

Hope to see you in class.

mark making into books

 

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Go back to your sketchbooks – reference

book arts, drawings, mark making / /

Generally, I need a reference for drawing. I don’t do so well just drawing from memory or imagination.

drawing of leaves

Some of my favorite drawings are the ones of twigs and organic items found in the woods. They feel authentic, real, most like me.

twig and berry drawing

Recently I have been looking back through my sketchbooks to find flowers, leaves and doodles to add to a new book.

use sketchbook for drawing reference

In the image above, I used the sketchbook drawing of the black vines as a reference for the lower drawing in a new book in progress. The bigger book is one I am creating with the lessons from the Make Marks + Books online class. The book is layered with marks, prints and doodles. And in this one I am finishing it with leaf, vine and flower drawings.

This loose layering approach:

  • fosters just beginning and going with the flow
  • allows you experiment with different kinds of mark making
  • delete, cover or edit undesirable marks
  • discover meaning, focus or story as you go
  • identify your strengths and preferences

If this sound interesting to you, then read the details on the Make Marks + Books workshop page. Class starts soon.

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Tiny house collage with book pages

altered books, artist book, book arts / /

I wanted to share a quick little collage project that I did with the margins of old book pages. This is a fun thing to make when you are stopped and don’t know where to begin.

tiny house collage

Materials needed:

  • Book pages with various shades of white and yellow
  • Glue and scissors
  • Colored paper or book cloth
  • Pencil, pen or markers

I am sure you have most of these supplies in your studio. Watch the video and build a village!

If you would like to explore more ways to use books in your art practice, then check out the online course, Books as ART Materials. Class starts soon.

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Binding prints into books

artist book, book arts, handmade books / /

I have so many gelatin prints, and I am always looking for ways to use them. For the past few months I have been using lots of prints to make small soft cover journals.

piles of gelatin prints

I have experimented with using a print every other page and also made books with just a few prints and more blank pages.

handmade gratitude journal

I used a few as a gratitude journal.

tiny handmade sketchbook

And another as a tiny sketchbook.

My nephew used his to practice his Japanese.

double fan bound note book

I did make a few with hardcovers. The hardcover does elevate the feel of the journal and is good if I am making a more precious book of prints.

handmade books with double fan binding

I like this book form because:

  • It is great for single sheet prints
  • It can be used for prints with inky/messy backside
  • It opens pretty flat
  • I can use up a lot of prints

If you would like to explore this book form, then join us in the online Bound Prints Workshop. Get all the details and register here.

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Tear, sew, burn and bind

book arts, collage, combined techniques, mark making, mixed media printmaking / /

Do you have a pile of paper or prints that you are willing to transform with:

  • tearing into collage shapes
  • sew with or without thread
  • burn or smoke stain and
  • bind or fold into books?

collage on children's board book

If so, then you might enjoy the Mixed Media Retreat, and online class starting soon.

Tear, burn and stitch mixed media art

The class is designed to introduce ideas and techniques into your practice that will transform your papers and prints into books and mixed media prints.

collage with gelatin prints

Each lesson includes:

  1. A simple mark making prompt
  2. A textural layering technique
  3. A book form for reshaping prints and papers
  4. An artist talk to stimulate the mind.

You can get more details and register on the workshop page.

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