In the new year I’ve finished my forth art journal and started a fifth one. Starting a new journal is always fun – and scary, to me. You know what you had, but you never know what you’ll get.
The previous once have been spiral bound blank books in two different sizes. This one is second hand book, thrifted for 1 SEK in Övik last year (March). It is called Världen vi lever i (The world we live in) and is printed in 1966.
I wasn’t sure I would like working with an altered art journal book, but so far I love it. I’ve been feeling inspiration every day to go make a spread (or more!) in this journal.
The pages are sturdy and filled with pictures. It’s a book about the evolution, explaining how everything works, from Big Bang to Dinosaurs and other animals being born later in the book!
The imagery inspires me, but if I get tired of clouds I just gesso paint over them and cover the whole page with my own stuff.
The book is rather big (one page is 8 x 11 inches, 20 x 28 centimeter), which I love. It leave me room for both paint, collage and some writing.
El Mundo – Earth being born.
Sometimes I feel like a lonely little rabbit in the universe, with no chance to steer my destiny.
Mandala
This spread, Mandala, was an accident, with the two painted pages gluing together after I finished for the night. When I came back to the book I had to tear them apart, hence the look. But I liked it so I didn’t paint over it. I added a photo of a carpet and a globe (image from the book), and took a picture of it! Seeing it as a photo, before finishing was fun. I’ll try not to be so caught up in the process on another spread so I can take photos as the page develops. Would be fun to see it from start to finish.
C is for Challenge
More earth tones, inspired by the mountains on the spread itself wish was about how the mountains were born. Gives you a bit of perspective, huh? C is for challenges, climbing, creativity and cutting up magazines.
Can you tell I’m inspired right now? I just want to go back and do more all the time!
oh wow, FIVE???!!!! such beauty too!!! i never ever finished one journal with writing or artwork because i would get bored of one book… so then i’d find another pretty one and do my stuff… so in the attic, i have a ton of half finished journals haha… i love the mandala one btw!
The journal pages are beautiful! My latest journal is an altered book too, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to using plain sketchbooks.
I love the madala one as well. I would really like to try this but something is holding me back. I guess I’m afraid it’s going to look like a 3 year old did it!
Vilken rolig id? att anv?nda en loppisbok!
Hur speciellt och fint som helst! :)
wow … this is SO inspiring .. you’ve got me thinking now!
[…] I love altering books. I love how compact and sturdy these books are. I find them easy to work with and yummy to look throuhg. You are welcome to read more about books I’ve altered and used as art journals on my blog; altered ocean book, altered book cover with roses, the crow about journal and Altering the world we live in. […]