monotype print

I gave myself the gift of a week long Art “camp” and I know it will feed my practice for quite some time.

I am at Bennington College in the ART New England program. Here with many other artists. It is amazing how similar and yet diverse we are with our printmaking style.

When I go on an art retreat, I can get pretty intense. I want to learn as much as possible, so I can get the most value and really take my work to a new level. Some times I forget to sleep and “breath.” Here is one moment of  ahhh breath………….. the morning sun.

One wonderful thing is have all my meals prepared and with wonderful choices! Oh if only I could have a chef at home. I am enjoying the beauty of my surroundings. Only 3 more days………….

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

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.

I love text as texture.

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

I love finding my own meaning in the everyday.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

As I am preparing my new class, Book as ART Materials, I am discovering new sources for old and unwanted books.

 

Independent Used Book Sellers

These local book sellers often have boxes of books that are too old to sell or otherwise headed for the recycle bin.

I found 2 kind book sellers who were willing to let me take books from there recycle pile.

Never 2 Many books – 58 Pulaski St. Peabody, MA – I found a box full of old books that I can use for book making art projects – Thank YOU!

 

Well Read Books  – Rte 125, Plaistow, NH – Offered me to look through and take some of the books that were on the way to the book recycling project Rolling Thunder

I know that most of my readers do not live close to these book sellers, but I bet that you have similar types of bookstores in your area.

It makes it a lot easier to cut up a book if you got it for free or very inexpensively.

Some good sources for nearly free old books:

1. Yard Sales
2. Friends garages and basements
3. Small independent used book sellers
4. Local libraries

What to look for in an old book?

• Cool covers
• Interesting End pages
• Old notes
• Fades pages
• Drawings, music, foreign language
• Embossed words or designs

Click here to read more about the Books as ART Materials workshop here on the information page.