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Today we have a guest post from Tricia Leng all about altering a book and building an art journal spread in stages.
I am so thankful for being invited to do a guest post for one of my most favorite inspirational artists. Julie’s “Art Journal Every Day” challenge has really helped me to be more intentional about going into the art room and keep working.
I am going to share the steps I used to create the following art journal page. The nice thing about this is you can get some done and then come back later to work further on the page.
One of the fun aspects for me, along with doing the page itself, is searching my stash or magazines for images to enhance the page. I especially liked the lighted pumpkins, which added another touch of whimsy to the page.
I used a children's book with a library binding. I like finding these books at thrift stores or rummage sales. They usually have nice heavy pages and a sturdy binding. I started by taping the center between the two pages with book binding tape and then painting the pages with a layer of white gesso. I feel that taping the center of the pages reinforces the integrity of the spine and helps the book hold together. This is something I started doing to prevent severe disappointment after spending quite a lot of effort on a book, only to have it fall apart later.
Next, I scraped various colors of acrylic paints and gels across the surface of the page. I used an old gift card to scrape the paint and create texture.
After the paint was dry, I stamped various images with a waterproof dye-based ink.
Next step was to add images cut from magazines and to apply napkin bits to create more texture.
Once this was completed, I added a strip of grosgrain ribbon and more images, including the focal image, along with more stamped images.
Once the images were all glued down, I went over the entire surface with clear gesso and then used colored pencils, acrylic paint and markers to add color and texture to the images and the page. Adding the clear gesso makes it much easier to add paints and shading, since the gessoed surface reduces the smooth surface of the page and any stray glue or matte medium.
I used a charcoal pencil to add shading to the elements to add dimension to the various elements.
Lastly, I added more texturing and highlights to the page.
Here is the final image:
One the things I enjoy most about art journaling and altering old books is the ability to experiment and just have fun. And it always makes me feel good to save an old book from the trash bin.
I am a wife, a Christian, and a homeschooling mom of three. My oldest is in college studying to become a teacher, my middle daughter is in graduate school for Chemistry and my youngest is still at home and a Senior in high school. As I approach the end of my homeschooling years, I am enjoying spending more time in my messy art room. I love to make altered books, do art journaling and making things from felted old sweaters. I am an avid lover of Ancient History, love to read and have coffee with friends. I love the outdoors, x-country skiing, sailing, and hiking. I have recently embarked on a new career teaching Latin for elementary students at a local Christian school. It keeps me quite busy and is very fulfilling.
You can find me on my blog at www.alteredschoolmarm.blogspot.com, where I post some of my art and some adventures in my daily life. I would love it if you would stop by and say hello!
Your work is beautiful Tricia! It’s super fun to see your process too – thanks for sharing!!!
Your work is beautiful Tricia! It’s super fun to see your process too – thanks for sharing!!!
Your work is beautiful Tricia! It’s super fun to see your process too – thanks for sharing!!!
Your work is beautiful Tricia! It’s super fun to see your process too – thanks for sharing!!!
Stunning and I loved seeing your process!
Stunning and I loved seeing your process!
Stunning and I loved seeing your process!
Stunning and I loved seeing your process!
This is awesome! First, thank you for sharing- I will be off to check out your blog 🙂 Question:can u use masking tape instead of book binding tape? and: when u say paint with acrylics and “gels”..what r gels? Oh, sorry for the questions , I am new to this and learning!
This is awesome! First, thank you for sharing- I will be off to check out your blog 🙂 Question:can u use masking tape instead of book binding tape? and: when u say paint with acrylics and “gels”..what r gels? Oh, sorry for the questions , I am new to this and learning!
This is awesome! First, thank you for sharing- I will be off to check out your blog 🙂 Question:can u use masking tape instead of book binding tape? and: when u say paint with acrylics and “gels”..what r gels? Oh, sorry for the questions , I am new to this and learning!
This is awesome! First, thank you for sharing- I will be off to check out your blog 🙂 Question:can u use masking tape instead of book binding tape? and: when u say paint with acrylics and “gels”..what r gels? Oh, sorry for the questions , I am new to this and learning!
Tricia thanks for the idea of using children’s books – so great because of the unique sizes and low page count, I feel like they’d be easier to fill.
Tricia thanks for the idea of using children’s books – so great because of the unique sizes and low page count, I feel like they’d be easier to fill.
Tricia thanks for the idea of using children’s books – so great because of the unique sizes and low page count, I feel like they’d be easier to fill.
Tricia thanks for the idea of using children’s books – so great because of the unique sizes and low page count, I feel like they’d be easier to fill.
How marvelous to see the pages coming to life before my eyes. Thanks for sharing!
How marvelous to see the pages coming to life before my eyes. Thanks for sharing!
How marvelous to see the pages coming to life before my eyes. Thanks for sharing!
How marvelous to see the pages coming to life before my eyes. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome page, thanks for sharing.
Awesome page, thanks for sharing.
Awesome page, thanks for sharing.
Awesome page, thanks for sharing.
Wow. Beautiful.
Thanks for showing the process.
Wow. Beautiful.
Thanks for showing the process.
Wow. Beautiful.
Thanks for showing the process.
Wow. Beautiful.
Thanks for showing the process.
What an amazing transformation! Your art is so beautiful and rich with color and texture! Off to your blog to visit! Thank you, Julie, for introducing us to Tricia, and thank you, Tricia, for introducing us to your gorgeous art!
What an amazing transformation! Your art is so beautiful and rich with color and texture! Off to your blog to visit! Thank you, Julie, for introducing us to Tricia, and thank you, Tricia, for introducing us to your gorgeous art!
What an amazing transformation! Your art is so beautiful and rich with color and texture! Off to your blog to visit! Thank you, Julie, for introducing us to Tricia, and thank you, Tricia, for introducing us to your gorgeous art!
What an amazing transformation! Your art is so beautiful and rich with color and texture! Off to your blog to visit! Thank you, Julie, for introducing us to Tricia, and thank you, Tricia, for introducing us to your gorgeous art!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks, Jane! Masking tape will work, but it will often tear and won’t last, so it depends on what you are shooting for. If it is longevity, it won’t work as well as a sturdier tape. – And gels are acrylic paints with an extender (gel) – they tend to be much more shear and take longer to dry, allowing you more working time. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Jane! Masking tape will work, but it will often tear and won’t last, so it depends on what you are shooting for. If it is longevity, it won’t work as well as a sturdier tape. – And gels are acrylic paints with an extender (gel) – they tend to be much more shear and take longer to dry, allowing you more working time. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Jane! Masking tape will work, but it will often tear and won’t last, so it depends on what you are shooting for. If it is longevity, it won’t work as well as a sturdier tape. – And gels are acrylic paints with an extender (gel) – they tend to be much more shear and take longer to dry, allowing you more working time. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Jane! Masking tape will work, but it will often tear and won’t last, so it depends on what you are shooting for. If it is longevity, it won’t work as well as a sturdier tape. – And gels are acrylic paints with an extender (gel) – they tend to be much more shear and take longer to dry, allowing you more working time. Hope that helps!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments!
WOW, this is fantastic!!! and it’s so nice to know about a fellow blogger…Homeschooling must be very rewarding and also, your children must be really smart!!! I totally believe in homeschooling…and your art is gorgeous.
XO
Cindy
WOW, this is fantastic!!! and it’s so nice to know about a fellow blogger…Homeschooling must be very rewarding and also, your children must be really smart!!! I totally believe in homeschooling…and your art is gorgeous.
XO
Cindy
WOW, this is fantastic!!! and it’s so nice to know about a fellow blogger…Homeschooling must be very rewarding and also, your children must be really smart!!! I totally believe in homeschooling…and your art is gorgeous.
XO
Cindy
WOW, this is fantastic!!! and it’s so nice to know about a fellow blogger…Homeschooling must be very rewarding and also, your children must be really smart!!! I totally believe in homeschooling…and your art is gorgeous.
XO
Cindy
Thanks again Tricia! 🙂
Thanks again Tricia! 🙂
Thanks again Tricia! 🙂
Thanks again Tricia! 🙂
Fantastic! Just love it!
Fantastic! Just love it!
Fantastic! Just love it!
Fantastic! Just love it!
Wonderful! It’s great seeing how it’s done step-by-step. Thanks so much!
Cindy
Wonderful! It’s great seeing how it’s done step-by-step. Thanks so much!
Cindy
Wonderful! It’s great seeing how it’s done step-by-step. Thanks so much!
Cindy
Wonderful! It’s great seeing how it’s done step-by-step. Thanks so much!
Cindy
Your work is absolutely beautiful!
Your work is absolutely beautiful!
Your work is absolutely beautiful!
Your work is absolutely beautiful!
Thanks, Cindy! It’s nice to see you here!
Thanks, Cindy! It’s nice to see you here!
Thanks, Cindy! It’s nice to see you here!
Thanks, Cindy! It’s nice to see you here!
This is amazing, and I loved to see the process of the page coming together.
This is amazing, and I loved to see the process of the page coming together.
This is amazing, and I loved to see the process of the page coming together.
This is amazing, and I loved to see the process of the page coming together.