Altered Book Workshop

I signed up for an Altered Book Workshop* this Fall, and apart from missing the first of four sessions because I misplaced my appointment book and misremembered the start date, it has been such a boost!

It isn't about learning techniques - so far I know everything that has been taught - it's about creating with other living, breathing creative people in the room. We are separate but together, giving each other support and space in equal measure. It lifts my spirits and encourages me. The last session is this Saturday, which is a bummer, but I am so glad I signed up and followed through. I have a problem with inertia, and often have meant to sign up for a class and then at the last minute decided to bag it.

My altered book is a board book, and I have had fun making painted and stamped layered backgrounds. I accidentally hit on a theme - wings - I had just been working along, creating whatever felt right, when I realized that everything in my book had wings. There was a bingo card I used as a background, so I cut out a W and S from a magazine and pasted them over the B and O to make the word WINGS. I really want to finish this book by the end of the last session.

And then I want to take other classes - if there are any that are appropriate. It adds to my life and reduces my tendency to self-isolate.

*For those of you who don't know, altered books are published books which the artist then uses as a kind of canvas for art, thereby altering the book. The kind of art done in the books varies widely. It can be collage, painting, drawing; it can cover the entire original page of the book, obscuring the original printing, or it can use what is printed in the book. Some people black out words, leaving other words visible to create odd, obscure poems. Some people draw on the existing illustrations. The quality of art varies widely, even in published altered books. Many are just plain horrible and trite. But many are fascinating, surprising treasures to be lingered over.