Monday 9 October 2017

A Book Exchange

Back in the summer when I was bemaoning the lack of creativity in my life my blogging friend Lesley threw down a gauntlet and suggested that we might come up with some sort of creative challenge to kick start some activity and get the creative juices flowing. We've a bit of a history of swaps and challenges that started back in 2011 with a postcard swap. We have also exchanged books and prints in the past, both things we enjoy making and so a challenge involving a printed book seemed a good starting point.


During August we both got busy printing sheets of paper which we then made up into books.


I stuck to a palette of black, grey and green and had lots of fun printing a couple of large sheets of paper using a variety of mono printing techniques.


I then tore the sheets into smaller pages which were bound together to make a book.


I used some of the prints to cover the book too and it was a good opportunity to practise some forgotten binding methods.


Then at the begining of September I posted it off  to Lesley and she now has the task of working into the book for three months before returning it to me in January.


And likewise I received a book of prints from Lesley into which I can work.


We can draw, paint, print, collage, cut and stick... anything goes with the original book providing the starting inspiration.


The strong red and black graphic pages of Lesley's book suggested urban landscapes to me and I was thinking buildings and graffiti.


But everytime I picked it up I couldn't get started... until this morning.


Out walking with the dog I was inspired by all the signs of autumn around and especially by a fabulous bush covered in rose hips. So I made a ten minute start into my sketchbook and painted this quick sketch of rose hips, which is not the least bit urban!


I've a lot to do until I send the book back to Lesley in the new year but starting is often the hardest part.


At least that is what I'm telling myself... especially as I've not started that coat yet either!

18 comments:

  1. LOVE THIS! Yes in lower case I will say I really do love this. what a great idea. Happy book filling to both x

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  2. I remember what fun it was to follow you once before as you passed art work round a group.

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  3. What a brilliant idea...and wonderful books too.
    When I saw your rosehips on IG today I thought they were so beautiful!

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  4. Fond memories of the Postman's Knock postcard swap. Love the rosehips.

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  5. Wow, what a fantastic idea. Being accountable to someone else is so motivational isn't it. I love the books you've both made, and I shall enjoy seeing what else you add. CJ xx

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  6. What a lovely idea, and those books are beautiful even before either of you works in them. The rose hips are beautiful too. I have plans for a series (!!) of memory books and haven't started anything yet. Plans are so easy to come by.

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  7. OK - so now all of us are jealous and want to be swapping books too! :-)

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  8. Those books are so clever. I would hate to make a mark in either one!

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  9. The rose hips against the urban background is just perfect, I fact rather like my very urban allotment on the Olympic Park. Looking forward to seeing the project develop.

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  10. Love your rose hips.Look forward to seeing how your book develops over the next few months.

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  11. Wow, what an inspiring blog post! I love how you are making pieces of art together. The books are already amazing and I can't wait to find out how they will turn out. Plenty of reships in my part of urban neighbourhood :-) xx

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  12. Love your rose hip painting. What a great idea to get creative. Hope cute puppy is doing well. :)

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  13. This is a really cool idea! I like the fact that you have both been working on the printing through the summer and then work through them in the winter. I really enjoy mono printing, and even do some simple things with the daycare kids. It's always a treat to pull that print off (both for them and for me!). The rosehip fits perfectly with the stark black. I like the juxtaposition of the hard, stark black with the softness of the plant. Great start!
    Wendy

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  14. Great project for you both. The books are stunning even before they've been worked on. Hope you'll keep us updated with progress.

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  15. What a great idea! Love the rose hips. Looking forward to seeing what other lovely things you create.

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  16. Hey, I'm a bit behind the times here, catching up with blog posts etc... and was enjoying the read until I realised that it was ME that had to fill in that gorgeous book. It is coming on but I think I will get back something a bit classier than I'm going to send out. Roll on January

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  17. What a great idea, I love the way you've added the rose hips to the urban feel of your friend's journal, it really pops.

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