Giddings Art: Strathmore Mixed Media Paper

10/11/2018

#inktober 11

Today's prompt is "cruel" but I just can't follow that prompt today. You see, we are finally burying my father's ashes with full military honors this morning. We waited until now, when more of our family could be here, including my nephew who was being deployed to Iraq when my father died. So, today, my inktober drawing is to honor my Dad....who was the farthest thing from cruel. I drew his hand, holding his airbrush. This was how he made his living and supported his family for over 50 years. The Bible was what he lived by and how he shared his faith every day in both words and actions. The flag represents his love and service to his country. And the words "Joy" and "Unconditional Love" because that was how he lived and loved his family. I love you, Dad! I can't wait until I see you again!

4/21/2017

New Leather Journal

I love my sketchbooks and right now, I have at least 4 that I am working in at the same time. Each one has a different purpose. My daily journal is the one I carry with me to sketch anything that strikes me as interesting at the moment. It is really more of a diary and even though I don't write much in it, my sketches journal where I have been and what I have been doing.

One of my favorite journals was purchased from Iona Handcrafted Books at the Main Street Festival in Ft. Worth several years ago. It is a very special, very beautiful journal that, although it is worth every penny, was more than I have ever spent on a sketchbook. I looked at it for a year before I touched it with a pencil. I was afraid that I would mess it up! I now use it to document the travels Wayne and I have made. Since I started drawing in it, I am not as afraid of ruining it and have even added some ink and watercolor. But when I sketch on a trip, graphite (my favorite medium) smears before I return home to spray it with fixative.

Another book artist that I follow is Mind's Eye Journals. She makes gorgeous leather journals too. I love the leather books, the smell, the feel, the cool factor! And as I said before, although they are worth every penny, it is more than I can spend on a sketchbook.

After watching Youtube videos, studying the Iona journal that I own, and finding inspiration from Minds Eye and Iona, I have decided to try to make my own journal. I found a great deal on a very large piece of leather and I bought large sheets of Strathmore Mixed Media paper from Blick Art Supplies. By hand making my own leather journal, I am completely customizing it to my needs. The Mixed Media paper is a 90lb paper that is nice to draw on and can take ink or light watercolor washes. It is also cheaper than watercolor paper, a better choice for a first try at journal making.

To address the problem of my drawings smearing before I am able to spray them with fixative, I am putting tracing paper between each sheet of paper. With it bound into the book, I won't have to try to hang onto loose sheets of tracing paper. This is my work so far......

The leather....