March 16, 2010

Sketchbooks...

The topic of sketchbooks has come up in conversation several times recently and thought I'd show my efforts to create something a bit larger than the moleskins that are so popular (I have three) and also use up some good print paper that's been stored for years.

This is the first sketchbook I made to take to France several years ago. The cover is made from medium weight w/c paper which has been painted and distressed with acrylic paints to resemble leather and give it a bit of protection. It's bound with jute cord.

The web is loaded with examples of artfully crafted handmade books, including instructions, and I'm in awe of all that can be done in that direction, but my purpose is simply to use up this large supply of paper in an efficient manner that also might offer a bit of inspiration without inhibiting my need to make marks without concern for making art.

So the "books" I'm making now are simply means of binding a few pages together, handy to keep with my gear without bulk or weight. And fit on my tripod drawing board perfectly (see earlier post.) The paper is heavy enough to take a bit of color, doesn't have as much sizing as w/c paper but w/c crayon/pencil or ink stick with a bit of water do fine.

I've been going though old sketchbooks and realizing I've really let the sketch habit fade... I love to draw but making myself actually do it is the problem. Wonder why that is...

6 comments:

Martha Marshall said...

This is a beautiful idea. I too have a hard time getting myself to draw. But you have given me food for thought. There is so much wonderful paper lying around. Maybe if I put some together in books I'd use them!

Heather Day said...

this is great! I made a sketchbook last year and had trouble with the pages staying together the more i worked on it. I love the leather cover. I bet that makes it more durable than what I was using.

Kesha Bruce said...

Karen- Thanks for posting this! What an incredibly clever idea for all this extra watercolor paper I have laying around my studio in piles!

Karen Jacobs said...

Should have mentioned that I used hammer and nail to make the holes. Yesterday I found one I'd left on screened porch all winter... dusted it off and it's ready to go again. It's tied up with a shoestring... easy to thread through the holes. Enjoy!

Nina Johansson said...

Really nice idea with the leather-like cover, never thought of that. I bind a lot of sketchbooks, some simple and some regular books. Very inspiring post - well, very inspiring blog, really. It´s my first visit here, I´ll be back! :)

Karen Jacobs said...

Love your drawings, Nina... nice to meet you ;)