Gelli Printing and Book Art

You may think I'd just vanished into the ethers but not so. In fact I'm just getting into Gelli printing. I hope to use some of the prints as covers for bookbinding projects as well as pages in art journals and collage materials. I made my own gelli printing plate with gelatin and glycerin and water. I can't wait to use it! I just haven't had time to do it justice. I'm trying to clean art space to do it. It is one of those projects where you can create a lot in a short time so you have to have all your ducks in a row before you begin.

I'm also still journaling four or five times a week. I try to write 3 pages each day as well as sketching out ideas. I keep many notebooks, composition books and sketchbooks laying around so there is always one nearby when I get an epiphany. I recently used it to sketch out ideas for knitted pullovers.
Then I tore the page out to make sure it stayed with my knitting project; otherwise I might forget what book I drew it in. I always keep one journal on my bed too.

I have a bunch of those serrated scissors that people use for scrapbooking. I found out I can use them to cut craft foam, and then use those as 'combs' to draw designs on the paint on the gelli printing block. So I picked up some craft foam at the Dollar Tree store. There are some fabulous books out on Gelli Printing. I bought one and then saw another one at Barnes & Noble. Can't buy them all! I wish.

Anyway, don't give up on me. I'll post when I can.

View from my front  yard.

Cheap Junk Journal is a Great Asset to Me

I'm having good success with my junk journal. I got a 1 1/2" ring binder, and my 3 hole punch, and filled it with notebook paper, sketch paper, graph paper, and computer printer paper.  So no matter what I'm in the mood to do, I can do it in there. It keeps it all handy for when I travel around throughout the day. I can jot down story ideas, sketch people and animals, write a grocery list, or glue in ephemera before it gets lost. The binder has front and back slots for sliding in letters or receipts. It's cheap, low tech and I love it.

You can make one for under $5.00. I think I paid $.99 for the binder, and used paper I already had in my apt. And because it can be opened and papers can be moved, it's easy to take things out to scan them or mail them or rearrange them.

Odd Bird Mini Art Books

I am making two mini art books right now. I'm using hand carved rubber stamps but these mini books can be filled with any type of art that you like to do, from watercolor, to collage, to mixed media to photography.  I wrote about it here: Mini Art Books 
Next I have to stamp and emboss the words in the haiku I wrote for the books. I'm making two books at the same time to make it more efficient.

Watercolors on watercolor paper.

The owl is white embossing powder. The trees and bird are metallic silver

 embossing powder.

Owls and trees in white embossing powder. The stamps were carved on circular plastic erasers.

Books Need To Be Made

The book bug has bitten me again and I keep threatening to make some more books. I'd like to try some fabric covers.
The problem is I have all these ideas and not much energy. I get tuckered out before my goals come to fruition. I got a bone folder at Art Supply Warehouse last week. I need to clear a table to work on. Maybe when it gets cooler today and I feel more rested. I'd like to make a stack of them to add to my gift box for spontaneous trades or gift giving.

New Altered Book Project

I'm gathering supplies to make a series of altered books. I already have the books. I got them at a library discard sale for .50 each. These are going to be much nicer than my previous art journals. I'm going to go all out with beads, and fancy papers, and trims and found objects. I need to get some gel medium or I can just use Mod Podge.

More Pages From the Book

As the year ends today, many of you will be starting new yearly art journals. I hope you do. Don't forget to use it tomorrow.

Sketchbook

A page from my sketchbook.I was cleaning up this morning and found some barely used charcoal pencils. So I sat down and drew this face before the tasks of the day took me away from art. Making time to draw is a challenge for
all of us.

Pages From the Book

Today I got photos taken of some of my pages from my art book. Some feature my hand carved rubber stamps. Some I painted. Some I collaged. Mixed media for sure. So much ephemera passes through my hands each day. I try to tuck some of it into my book for future use. So much to do, so little time. I wish I had 6 hands and 2 bodies.

I Found My Art Book

Today I was making a video of things in my room and I found my Art Book and featured some of the pages in this video: So I hope you enjoy it. Yay for Art Journaling.