Mixed Media Concertina Sketchbook

My cat, Grover, kindly posed for sketches in my latest accordion-fold sketchbook.

I love to read in the evenings, and have been delving into Jane Stobart's Extraordinary Sketchbooks, where I got the idea to make a collaged sketchbook like architect Karen Butti.

I used a base of 140 pound watercolor paper, and glued on painted papers & old maps with Yes! Paste. 

Below is the cover of the sketchbook, decorated with music sheeting that's been painted with several thin layers of acrylic paint.

 

 The surface of these papers is slick, which would make it difficult to draw on top of them with graphite, charcoal or colored pencils.  I applied clear gesso over both sides of the sketchbook to add a layer of grit without obscuring the designs underneath it.   

My cats were hanging out in the studio when I started sketching, so they fill the first pages.

I love that I can sketch with rich, black charcoal and white pastel pencils.  The painted paper underneath adds another layer of pattern and color.  It feels exciting to have a new sketchbook with a variety of colorful papers

The songbirds hunting seeds in the flower box outside my studio window fit perfectly on the map of Glacier Bay, Alaska.  

Dark-Eyed Juncos scratch on the earth for seeds, so I put black oiler sunflower seeds in my flower beds for them. It's a protected spot, and it brings them closer for me to draw.

Collaging colorful papers onto a plain sketchbook adds a playfulness and imperfection that invites doodling.  If you're feeling anxiety facing the blank page, maybe a collaged page would help you push past that feeling and make drawings.

The beauty of drawing in a sketchbook is that your artwork doesn't have to be "pretty" or "perfect."  Truly in this world, there is no such thing as perfect, so try looking at drawing as an exploration, a voyage of discovery. Every drawing teaches you something.

Happy Creating!

Turning a Sketch into a Painting

I've been making sketches of Wise Wildwomen of late, and I wanted to size this one up to fill a canvas. 

There are lots of ways to do this. 

I used a video projector, connected to my laptop to project a photo of the sketch onto the prepared canvas. 

Turning down the lights in the studio helped me to see clearly to copy the projected image onto the canvas.  

If you use this approach, it's important to take a few minutes to adjust the projected image so that it's the right size, in the right location, and is in true proportion.  

My canvas was tipped back slightly on the easel, so it took a little adjustment on the projector to take out the "keystoning" and make the image flat and undistorted.

I traced the projected image onto the canvas with a burnt sienna colored pencil, then worked in more colored pencils, added some washes of watercolor, and used watercolor crayons to finish the artwork.

I initially prepared the 18" x 24" canvas by pasting on a variety of papers that had been treated with rust and vinegar. You can learn about the rust-staining process in this blog post.

After the paste dried, I covered the surface with clear gesso to give a little protection to the papers and add a touch of grit to make drawing easier.

The rusty colored paper created a toned base to work on, so I could add highlights easily with a white colored pencil or watercolor crayon.  I like the effect of using old book pages, music sheeting, etc. to express emotion, thought, and the complexity of being human.

If you like to draw or paint faces, remember that you don't have to make them look like anyone in particular.  They can simply represent a character, thought or quality you are curious to explore.  Drawing faces can help us express emotions, and navigate transitions in our lives.  We can express a part of our personality or a quality we admire.

Happy Creating!

Care December: Gratitude

Today's Care December prompt involved thinking of the people that make us feel loved and the places that make us feel at home, and feeling gratitude for them. 

I began with this page spread, and picked out some paper bits that made me think of my best friend.  Just the thought of her makes me feel loved and grateful.

I collaged on a stamp -- my BFF and I write lots of letters -- and some tea-stained papers because we love drinking tea and chatting for hours.

A variety of acrylic paint colors added their brilliance.

After the acrylic dried, I painted on a layer of clear gesso so I could easily draw with colored pencils.

A heart with two teacups finished the pages for me.

I hope you'll join Kasia Avery's Care December, too,

and take some self care art time this week to create something just for your own joy.

Happy Creating!

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley. All rights reserved.