A few weeks ago, a friend of mine passed a handmade book to me. I judged the book by it's cover and immediately thought, "Alright! It must be a sketchbook that you pass on to people—I can't wait to draw something in it."
Alas, it was not. It was simply a book full of lyrics and two CDs. It was well done and made... but I was expecting something much more interactive and engaging—something that would spur my creativity.
I was disappointed, but, with encouragement from friends, I decided to make such a book. I made the book with pages of all different types of materials: plain paper, manuscript paper, lined paper, canvas pad, charcoal paper, hosho paper, etc. I also put photo sleeves in it in case a photographer wants to slip in a picture or if someone finds some inspiring leaf or something flat and wants to share it.
I just completed the book yesterday.
The instructions I put in the book are as follows:
This book is for your artistic expression.
Pick one page and
write
draw
paint
compose
sew
fold
photograph
collage
Do some art.
Be inspired.
You have two weeks to finish.
There are many surfaces provided to express your creativity:
rice paper
charcoal paper (3 colors)
drawing paper
graph paper
watercolor paper
manuscript paper
lined paper
canvas paper
canvas
hosho paper
black paper
plain paper
photo sleeves (for photography or inspiring things)
The medium you choose is not dictated by the page material.
Once done, sign your piece, place the piece of tracing paper back between the pages (for its protection)and give the book back to the maker.
If the artist you received the book from is not the maker, slip the book (in its box) into the pre-paid envelope, located at the back of the book, and mail it.
