Eyes Wide Shut

 It's been a rough couple of weeks.  I haven't felt much like doing anything creative.  I decided it was time to get back in the studio and paint something.

20x20 stretched canvas layer of gesso with lots of texture!  

Background painted with acrylics - just slap some paint on canvas to get started

Charcoal sketch 

R&F oil paint sticks used for portrait - blend paint with finger tips - messy!

For My Beloved Husband

My darling husband, Richard, passed away on June 2, 2022.  We enjoyed a wonderful life together for well over 31 years, but when you love someone it is never long enough is it?  

I usually don't save birthday cards and the like.  I received so many beautiful condolence cards - from family and friends sharing their thoughts about Richard, there was NO way I could just stash them in a box to be put in a closet.  I decided to make a book to house the cards instead.  I just love the way it turned out!

Punch holes in cards

Cut canvas to about the width & height of the smallest card

Using waxed thread sew cards to canvas (leave a 2" flap on each side of canvas)

Add folded black end leaves to both sides of card stack (heavy card stock)

Cut chipboard covers and spine

Book cloth made using cotton fabric, Heat & Bond Ultra Hold, and tissue paper

Cut book cloth leaving 2" on all sides of covers and spine - 1/4" space to accommodate the fold of the covers and spine; glue chipboard to fabric with PVA glue - let dry; 

cut book cloth corners at 45-degree angle - glue down with PVA glue.

Using a mixture of prepared Methyl Cellulose and PVA extends the drying time of glue enabling me to place a ribbon (not shown) in the center of the spread; canvas flaps followed by cover leaves in place making sure it's all squared up (mostly!)

Use heavy books and bricks to hold the covers and end leaves to lie flat when dry. 

One of my favorite photos of Richard - glued to mat board and front cover using PVA glue.

                

Secret Binding

I love making books.  I use these for art journals, travel journals, doodles, etc.  I found a YouTube tutorial on the "Secret Binding" - It wasn't complicated to do - it just takes time.  There are a few different tutorials on YouTube regarding this type of binding.

THE PROCESS

80lb Mixed Media paper to create signatures - that way I can draw, paint, or whatever on the paper without it bleeding through

I'm a big fan of using whatever I have on hand to create my books and/or dolls.  This is leftover chipboard from drawing pads to create the front, back covers and spine

Japanese hole punch - not easy to use with arthritic hands.  I had to punch the holes through front and back to get a clean hole - notice NO holes in spine

random painting with acrylics - handmade rubber stamp

 I used a straight needle threaded with heavy weight red and white bakery twine - to weave the covers together (I've purchased a lot bakery cookies over time!)

blue painter's tape helps keep the covers an equal distance away from the spine

inside covers

One of the perks with this type of binding is that the book lies flat when opened - the signatures are woven through the inside spine using a curved needle and waxed linen thread - thus the "SECRET"!

Bargain Flowers

 I picked up a couple of bunches of flowers at Publix.  You can't beat the price - $4/bunch!

9x12 stretched canvas

My Bargain Flowers

Singing the Blues

 My darling husband is in memory care.  I miss him so much and have to wait a few more days before I go visit.  He needs to acclimate to his new surroundings.  I know this makes sense, but my heart is breakinging.  I have a niggling feeling that he might not remember me...

The days are dragging by.  I set up his room at memory care - it needs a little more love.  I painted two small works just for him.  He loves to look at my art - whether it's good or bad - makes no difference to him.

9x12 stretch canvas - texture added with heavy gesso - backgrounds painted haphazardly with acrylic paint.  Easy to see what my mood was when I started these.  Happily, my mood lightened once I got going.  I have a couple of floater frames that will make these look great on his walls.

Yellow Flowering Trees in SWFL

 I absolutely love the Tabebuia trees that are blooming now.  Gorgeous yellow flowers against a bright blue sky.  I just had to try and paint one from memory.

6x8 canvas board - textured gesso - acrylic background

construct tree

Add flowers