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manipulated by paper

2/27/2018

 
Picture
 Last night I noticed that I'm almost at the end of  Comic Diary #16.
YIPES!
Bone folder to the rescue.
​
For how would I make sense of my days
without Comic Sarah to give me perspective?
Picture
Though I"m in year 5 of this daily drawing practice
I've only  been making my own books for the last 10 months or so,
and I have to say that ​experimenting
​with paper, aspect ratio and binding methods
has added immeasurably to the whole business.
Picture
What I might have lost in consistency
(a lovely shelf with equal-sized Moleskines all lined up),
I've gained in the practice
of making time for crow quill, ink, watercolor,
of asking questions,
of trying to stay alert for answers. 
Picture
What role, I wondered a few months ago,
​ does aspect ratio 
play in the way I think about my days?
Picture
Turns out that when presented with a liner format, 
my thinking, and drawing get...more linear:
​ this happened, then this, then this.
Duh.

Picture
(Cleaning aside--which I"m also supposed to be doing today--
I'm having a little envy of my last spring self 
sitting in the sun...)
Picture
With a square, or nearly square area on the other hand,
I seem to leave more white space,
and am included to let a single image tell the tale of the day.
Picture
Paper, too,  has a huge influence --
do pencil marks and  watercolor sit on the surface
leaving time for me to adjust, erase,
and reshape then into a form that is particularly pleasing?

 Or is every mark drawn instantly into the fibers of the paper,
turning each day into a  palimpsest,
of me making my uncertain way?
Picture
The  book  I bound this morning
includes some hand made paper I bought in Mexico
​ when teaching there several years ago --
paper I had been saving for 'something really special.'
Picture

There isn't a lot of it (one folio per four folio signature),
but I'm curious to see how the texture will mess with my mind.

Even more,
I'm thrilled to know
that Comic Sarah
is worth the experiment.
Picture
Jennifer Edwards link
2/27/2018 03:01:06 pm

Ok...I’m going to have to come back and visit this spot if gorgeousness here on your blog! I absolutely love that you make your own sketchbooks! I have done that once or twice and found myself treating them as “precious” so I go back to moleskines, handbook journal, aqua bee, and real cheap ones! I scrolled down to see such a gorgeous sweater knitted from tourney own handsoun and dyed yarn and delightful weavings! We have a lot in common. All the best to you in your creative and color-filled life!!

Velma Bolyard
2/28/2018 09:17:29 am

i see that you are using one of my favorite teacher's books...but i'm even more happy that you are using some of that special paper. comic and non-comic sarah deserve and maybe soon will require special paper. than you just send me a request...

Erika
2/28/2018 11:57:33 am

I love your books! I’ve been making my own drawing books for several years, but I don’t go through them quickly enough. Mostly because I lack the Every Day practice. Too many things Have to be done every day...how do you keep your daily drawing practice from becoming a chore?

Patti Kirch
2/28/2018 10:45:44 pm

Just when I thought you had the very best thought sketched out you You have a campfire, play tunes and sit under a tree that fits just right!!!!!
Ps I love your house curled up in the swirl! Golden I mean!

Carrie
3/3/2018 01:13:32 am

Nice and comforting . First blog I’ve read this year and it supports me in my process of my own home and health and entertains me at 4 am .

Renee
3/3/2018 05:59:04 am

This is so perfectly timed. I have been looking at paper choices for the past few weeks trying to make a choice for the few little journals I want to make. You remind me that sometimes I can over think all the possibilities. If I make one I can make another and then another :) ( like knitting and spinning ).. I 'm curious to see what challenges/delights the handmade paper will bring you.
Happy crafting!

Gerri
3/6/2018 05:09:59 pm

Thanks for the reminder that what i’m about to do is special. It borders on the arrogant or ignorant for me to think i’m guaranteed another day, let alone one more special.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
    tells stories
    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


    Picture
    Click for info on
    my four selvedge
    warping class
    with
    ​ Rebecca Mezoff  
    fringeless


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