Artist book as a canvas for collecting

I recently made an artist’s book with simple brown bag pages.

brown bags for book making

Brown bags are strong and a great substrate for journals and books.

mixed media artist book

I added some white pages and some printed pages and a gelatin printed cover.

Then I randomly white washed a few pages, printed on a few and just started adding marks.

gelatin printed book page by linda germain

I am having fun adding marks here and there and letting the book evolve in a non-linear fashion.

mixed media gelatin printed book

I have been carrying it around with me, so I can add to it where ever I am.

gelatin print in handmade book

I think it might end up being a memory or record of these few months. I always enjoy looking at these kinds of journals years later.

Give it a try.

Make a book from brown bags or other non-precious papers and then:

  • white wash some pages
  • tape in random words
  • Scribble or doodle
  • screen print or stamp in some marks
  • add some gelatin prints.

Let it evolve over the next few weeks. If you get some ugly pages, then collage over them. Enjoy!