The thing is, it was very hard for me to actually alter an existing book. I've altered some blank books ~ but they just aren't the same as altering a preprinted, published book. I had a hard time getting myself to do it. It's not that I didn't have the books... I had purchased several at thrift stores and at the library rummage sale (where I got a bag full of books for 2 bucks!), but, I just couldn't get myself to actually alter the book...
Why? Well, I guess I can blame my inner voices... the voices from the past, the voices of school librarians, teachers, principals, and even my father... telling me that books are to be respected and mustn't be hurt or damaged in any way. You shouldn't even bend back a corner of a page to mark your place... you should use a bookmark and be gentle and careful with books. Never write in books. Take care to never even tear a page.
And now, here I am doing the exact opposite of everything to which I had been conditioned to conform... those voices of authority figures of my past were haunting me, and it was a difficult thing to overcome.
But I'm glad I overcame it!
Because there are few things more liberating than the alteration of a book! Woo hoo!
I am in an altered book round robin, and my own book, I sent off with a couple of pages altered, but, I was still feeling a bit timid. It wasn't until I received Teresa's book that I started to feel a sense of relief from the confines that I had struggled with for so long.
I did two (2 page) spreads in Teresa's Bird Altered Book... These are the first 2 pages. The top page, I was inspired by the existing book, which has some really nice black and white images of former president's homes. As you can see, I used one of the images in my drawing, and incorporated it as part of the trunk of the tree.
The second 2 page spread, I created a very long collage using layers upon layers of ephemera & patterened paper, gesso, paint, and ink. The collage is actually a bit shiny, because I used some metallic paints. I am really happy with the result
1 comment:
these turned out wonderful .... altered books are addictive ... Linda F
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