I'm experimenting with making books from watercolor paper and using a neutral palette.  I wanted to use old photos from my family and this is one of my mother.  I have found this personalized this book for me and I get more joy out of working on it and turning the pages when it's done.

Now, I have to find more old photos and print them out.  It will give me an inspiring stash of images to work with in the future!

I found this image of my Mother as I was packing up to move and it reminded me of how old photographs are perfect for including in journals or artwork.  This photo was my mother's graduation photo from Cornell University.  Not hard to see why my Dad fell in love with her. 

I have lots of B&W photos of relatives I never even known or met as I am the family historian. I will scan them and start using them in my book-making.  I'll share the results with you next week.

Meanwhile, for all your mother's out there, Happy Mother's Day! 

I'm totally in love with this process.  I've never worked in browns and blacks before since I love color, but Karen Stamper has shown me the way!  

I viewed her class on Sketchbook Revival and now, I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities ahead of me as I try variations on her techniques.

Here is the first piece I finished after watching her video and seeing it on my computer screen, I now see all kinds of buildings, gardens, and other urban landscapes.  All made without a plan.

This is my kind of art-making!

​I'm going to do an entire sketchbook using this technique and I know I will be having a fun week.