Oh believe me, I was brought up with a deep reverence for books too! And when I first heard of people doing things like this I was a bit flabbergasted to be honest. I didn’t start doing it myself until much later, after I’d started binding books myself. I don’t know why/if that made me more comfortable with making art in books I already had, but.... I’m glad I’m doing this now. It feels like love and freedom all at once, somehow.
My goodness. I am quite capable of donating books, gifting books, even recycling (to another reader) books. But no power on earth could convince me that making art in a real, written book isn't vandalism. I'm just too well trained by my upbringing.
Such a great post - and your altered book is wonderful! I haven't made any art for ages, but I dug out my own art journals a couple of days ago to refer to for my latest post, and I caught myself saying 'Rebecca, you have to DO this again!' And reading this post of yours has clinched it. So, look out, random-book-I-already-own, you're going to be ALTERED........!
Thank you so much for inspiring me. Now all I have to do is wait for the weekend!
Ooooo that is so great to hear! Aaahh I can’t wait for the weekend either now, I’ll be so excited thinking of you! I’ve actually extended this post a little on my blog with extra tips that came to me after I’d hit “send”. https://www.jessicamaybury.com/blog/altered-book-art-journal
Ooooh, fab - thanks for the great link with even more info - I really can’t wait to get stuck in with some gesso! I’ve dug out a book that I’d bought for this purpose a couple of years ago, and I think I can get away without losing any pages - it’s a thin hardback with a pretty robust spine.
Oh believe me, I was brought up with a deep reverence for books too! And when I first heard of people doing things like this I was a bit flabbergasted to be honest. I didn’t start doing it myself until much later, after I’d started binding books myself. I don’t know why/if that made me more comfortable with making art in books I already had, but.... I’m glad I’m doing this now. It feels like love and freedom all at once, somehow.
My goodness. I am quite capable of donating books, gifting books, even recycling (to another reader) books. But no power on earth could convince me that making art in a real, written book isn't vandalism. I'm just too well trained by my upbringing.
Such a great post - and your altered book is wonderful! I haven't made any art for ages, but I dug out my own art journals a couple of days ago to refer to for my latest post, and I caught myself saying 'Rebecca, you have to DO this again!' And reading this post of yours has clinched it. So, look out, random-book-I-already-own, you're going to be ALTERED........!
Thank you so much for inspiring me. Now all I have to do is wait for the weekend!
Ooooo that is so great to hear! Aaahh I can’t wait for the weekend either now, I’ll be so excited thinking of you! I’ve actually extended this post a little on my blog with extra tips that came to me after I’d hit “send”. https://www.jessicamaybury.com/blog/altered-book-art-journal
Ooooh, fab - thanks for the great link with even more info - I really can’t wait to get stuck in with some gesso! I’ve dug out a book that I’d bought for this purpose a couple of years ago, and I think I can get away without losing any pages - it’s a thin hardback with a pretty robust spine.