Having fun with books

I love using books as art materials.

  • You can usually find them free or quite inexpensive
  • They have a rich patina and history
  • Paper, text and texture!

pages of old books as printing surfaces

I know some folks are horrified by the idea of ripping up a book. The books that I use are destined for the recycling bin. I go to library book sales at the tail end of the sale and usually get a bag of old books for a few dollars.

I am happy and the library is happy too. Win, win!

cut up book pages for collage

A few of the types of books that I like to use are:

  • dictionaries
  • Little Golden Books for children
  • A music book
  • a foreign language book
  • a couple of paperback books
  • any old and yellowed paged books

Today I printed some photos that I took of a scrunched and rolled paperback book. I think that I gave this dictionary new life, that is living on my studio wall.

books as photo

If you would like to explore using books as art materials, then check out the details on the workshop page. Start collecting old books and you will be ready for class, when it starts.